Compare towns
Castleton vs Gardner vs Randolph
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).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Randolph has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Gardner | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
21,148Highest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest 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% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Castleton 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. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Gardner 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. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% 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 |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gardner | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.