Compare towns
Castleton vs Randolph vs Dorset
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Randolph has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Randolph | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,007Lowest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Randolph and Dorset 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% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Dorset 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% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,095±$198Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Castleton 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 |
$4,507 11% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
22 minHighest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.