Compare towns
Cambridge vs Benson vs Randolph vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Cambridge | Benson | Randolph | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767 |
784Lowest |
4,843Highest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Benson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Cambridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Highest about the VT average |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.