Compare towns
Bristol vs Castleton vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
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 | Bristol | Castleton | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Lowest |
4,453 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Bristol and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Bristol and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Bristol and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Randolph 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.