Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover 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 kids (18.8% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Randolph has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Dover | Randolph | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
33,364Highest |
2,007Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
50.5±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Dover 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Castleton 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% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.3%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$75,069±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$235,400±$25k 29% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,095±$198 23% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,507 45% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±20.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #55 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dover School District | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.