Compare towns
Castleton vs Randolph vs Union vs Fair Haven
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 renters (32.8% rent).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Union | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,843Highest |
2,663Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Union 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Fair Haven 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% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Union 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%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% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Union 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. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Union 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. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Union and Randolph 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. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% 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% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.