Compare towns
Castleton vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
11,685Highest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Randolph and Castleton 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
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.