Compare towns
Castleton vs Middlesex vs Randolph vs Wheelock
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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.
| Measure | Castleton | Middlesex | Randolph | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,943 |
4,843Highest |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
— |
| Middlesex and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Wheelock 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.