Compare towns
Castleton vs Randolph vs Ripton vs Strafford
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Ripton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,843Highest |
508Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest 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±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Ripton and Strafford 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Ripton 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±$173Highest 5% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| 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 37% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Strafford 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| 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 History | 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.