Compare towns
Castleton vs Norwich 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).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Norwich | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
3,640Lowest |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Norwich and Randolph 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% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Norwich 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 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% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
21 minHighest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Norwich School District | 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 Our Story | 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.