Compare towns
Castleton vs Randolph vs Underhill vs Wilder
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Underhill | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,843Highest |
3,141 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
| Underhill 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 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
— | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| Randolph and Wilder 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 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% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Randolph 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 | #2 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 | — |
| 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 |
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.