Compare towns
Castleton vs Randolph vs Ripton vs Windsor
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Ripton | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,007 |
508Lowest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Randolph and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor 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%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Windsor 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
— | $1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
| Castleton 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 |
$4,507 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph and Ripton 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.