Compare towns

Castleton vs Lancaster 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 homeowners (79%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Randolph has the most expensive homes ($279k median).

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.

MeasureCastletonLancasterRandolph
People
Population
4,453
2,230Lowest
4,843Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
38.6±8.5
about the U.S. average
40.4±7.4Highest
4% above U.S.
Randolph and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
25.1%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lancaster and Castleton 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%±4.7Lowest
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%
23.4%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%
3.5%±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.
$66,765±$20kLowest
17% 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±$71k
32% below U.S.
$200,500±$24kLowest
40% below U.S.
$278,700±$38kHighest
16% below U.S.
Randolph and Castleton 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.
$1,036±$221Lowest
27% 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
$4,225
35% above U.S.
$4,698Highest
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±18.2Lowest
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%
19.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
65.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
21 minHighest
22% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Randolph and Lancaster 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 #107 of 120 in NH #55 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town None in town — Randolph Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.4
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.