Compare towns
Castleton vs Middlebury vs Northfield 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).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Randolph has the oldest population (median age 40.4).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Northfield | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
9,175Highest |
5,920 |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 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% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Middlebury 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.0 |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.