Compare towns

Castleton vs Derry vs Randolph vs Williston

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).
Derry has the highest household income ($109k).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureCastletonDerryRandolphWilliston
People
Population
4,453Lowest
34,116Highest
4,843
10,144
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.3±1.6
4% above U.S.
40.4±7.4
4% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
Williston 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%
20.7%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Derry and Williston 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%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Randolph and Williston 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%
37.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$108,944±$7kHighest
35% above U.S.
$76,758±$6k
5% below U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
Derry and Williston 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.
$432,000±$17k
30% above U.S.
$278,700±$38k
16% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
Williston and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,547±$138
9% above U.S.
$1,172±$173
17% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$8,103Highest
160% above U.S.
$4,698
51% above U.S.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9
U.S.: 51.1%
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Derry 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 #60 of 120 in NH #55 of 70 in VT #11 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town Pinkerton Academy Randolph Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.9Highest
9.4Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.