Compare towns

Highgate vs Randolph vs Castleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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.

MeasureHighgateRandolphCastleton
People
Population
3,528Lowest
4,843Highest
4,453
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44±7.4Highest
about the VT average
40.4±7.4
6% below VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
Highgate and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.8%±5.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Randolph and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
40.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,017±$14kHighest
about the VT average
$76,758±$6k
5% below VT
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
Highgate and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$280,500±$21kHighest
11% below VT
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
Highgate and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$895±$691Lowest
27% below VT
$1,172±$173Highest
5% below VT
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,558
29% below VT
$4,698Highest
7% below VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
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
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
7.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
21 min
12% below VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
Work from home
14.9%±7.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Highgate 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 #43 of 70 in VT #55 of 70 in VT #39 of 70 in VT
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School Randolph Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Highest
9.4Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.