Compare towns
Castleton vs Ira vs Putney vs Randolph
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).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Ira | Putney | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
381Lowest |
2,622 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Putney and Randolph 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Putney 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 8% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| 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 37% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| 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.