Compare towns
Castleton vs Ludlow vs Randolph vs Williston
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
Randolph has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Ludlow | Randolph | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
808Lowest |
2,007 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Randolph and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
$4,507 11% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
53.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1942 34 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
21 minHighest 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.