Compare towns
Castleton vs Jay vs Ludlow 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 kids (18.8% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).
Randolph has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Jay | Ludlow | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
808 |
2,007 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
50.5±7.7 17% above VT |
| Jay 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$75,069±$11kHighest 8% below VT |
| Randolph and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $1,018±$91Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
| Castleton 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
$4,507Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
53.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1942 34 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.