Compare towns
Castleton vs Colrain vs Randolph vs Northfield
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Colrain | Randolph | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,627Lowest |
4,843 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Randolph 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% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Randolph 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. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% 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 | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Northfield 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mohawk Trail | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4Lowest |
10.0Highest |
| 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.