Compare towns
Castleton vs Dorset vs Randolph vs Underhill
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 affordable homes ($225k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Dorset | Randolph | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,092Lowest |
4,843Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
| Dorset 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 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Dorset and Underhill 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
— |
| Dorset and Randolph 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton 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% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Underhill 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 | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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.