Compare towns
Castleton vs Derby vs Randolph vs Rochester
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).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Derby | Randolph | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,537 |
4,843Highest |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
| Rochester and Derby 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% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest 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% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Derby 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% |
36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Derby 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 29% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Randolph and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% 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 |
$3,449 32% below VT |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.