Compare towns
Bow vs Castleton vs Putney vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bow | Castleton | Putney | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
4,453 |
2,622Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Bow and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bow School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.