Compare towns
Castleton vs Randolph vs Williston vs Shaftsbury
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Williston | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,843 |
10,144Highest |
3,607Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Williston and Shaftsbury 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Williston 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%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Shaftsbury 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Williston and Shaftsbury 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.