Compare towns
Dalton vs Randolph vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Gilsum has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Dalton | Randolph | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916 |
4,843Highest |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Gilsum and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$80,417±$7k about the U.S. average |
| Dalton and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32k 27% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Gilsum and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$5,579Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilsum and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Gilsum 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.