Compare towns

Castleton vs Randolph vs Richmond vs Williston

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).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureCastletonRandolphRichmondWilliston
People
Population
4,453
4,843
4,159Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+2.1%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
43.7±5.6
about the VT average
45.4±4.5Highest
5% above VT
Williston and Richmond 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%
17.3%±4.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.5%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Randolph and Williston 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%
40.8%
VT: 43.8%
59.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$76,758±$6k
5% below VT
$108,235±$24kHighest
33% above VT
$106,967±$12k
32% above VT
Richmond and Williston 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
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
$432,200±$39k
37% above VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
8% below VT
$1,172±$173
5% below VT
—
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$4,698
7% below VT
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
$5,592
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
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%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
4.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
78.8%
VT: 73.2%
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
17% below VT
21 min
12% below VT
25 minHighest
6% above VT
20 min
16% below VT
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±6.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
Richmond and Williston 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 #5 of 70 in VT #11 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town None in town Randolph Union High School None in town 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

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.