Compare towns
Castleton vs Randolph vs Arlington vs Ira
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).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Randolph | Arlington | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,843Highest |
2,598 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington 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% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Randolph 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% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Arlington 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 |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Arlington 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 |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Arlington School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Arlington Memorial | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
10.6Highest |
— |
| 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.