Compare towns
Castleton vs Northfield vs Randolph vs Wolfeboro
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 affordable homes ($225k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Northfield | Randolph | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
5,920 |
4,843 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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 32% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% 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 |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Randolph Union High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
9.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.