Compare towns
Castleton vs Lancaster vs Randolph vs Ira
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Lancaster has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Randolph has the most people working from home (12.9%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Lancaster | Randolph | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,230 |
4,843Highest |
381Lowest |
| 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±7.4 4% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest 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. |
$71,827±$5k 11% 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. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Ira 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±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% 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. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | 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.