Compare towns
Castleton vs Randolph vs Putnam
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,843Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest 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% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 32% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Putnam 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 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 History | 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.