Compare towns

Castleton vs Richfield vs Northfield vs Randolph

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 most homeowners (79%).
Richfield has the most affordable homes ($146k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).

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.

MeasureCastletonRichfieldNorthfieldRandolph
People
Population
4,453
1,949Lowest
5,920Highest
4,843
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-13.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
37±7.3
5% below U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
40.4±7.4Highest
4% above U.S.
Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.8%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Richfield 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%
21.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Randolph and Richfield 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%
26.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$59,833±$14kLowest
26% below U.S.
$71,768±$13k
11% below U.S.
$76,758±$6kHighest
5% below U.S.
Randolph and Castleton 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.
$146,400±$15kLowest
56% below U.S.
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
$278,700±$38kHighest
16% below U.S.
Randolph and Northfield 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.
$802±$72Lowest
43% below U.S.
$1,018±$207
28% below U.S.
$1,172±$173Highest
17% below U.S.
Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$2,207Lowest
29% below U.S.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
$4,698
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.1%±18.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Northfield 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%
18.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
4.9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Randolph and Northfield 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 — #42 of 70 in VT #55 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 RICHFIELD SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Paine Mountain Union School District #68 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town None in town None in town Northfield Middle/High School Randolph Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.0Highest
9.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

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.