Compare towns
Castleton vs Chester vs Randolph vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Chester | Randolph | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,992 |
4,843Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Chester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
— |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 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 | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.4Highest |
— |
| 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.