Compare towns
Castleton vs Augusta vs Northfield 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
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Castleton | Augusta | Northfield | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,851Lowest |
5,920Highest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
43.9±3.3Highest 13% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Augusta and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±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+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$57,852±$10kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$147,200±$33kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$806±$209Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,062Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Highest |
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.