Compare towns
Castleton vs Randolph vs Hampton vs Shaftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Randolph has the most people working from home (12.9%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,843Highest |
1,145Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$86,071±$24kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Shaftsbury 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±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,015 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Hampton 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 | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.