Compare towns
Castleton vs Northfield vs Starksboro 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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Starksboro has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
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 | Northfield | Starksboro | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
5,920Highest |
1,939Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
38.2±4.8 11% 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$82,188±$15kHighest about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Starksboro 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$287,700±$42kHighest 9% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Starksboro and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Starksboro and Randolph 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Starksboro 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 |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Highest |
— | 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.