Compare towns
Northfield vs Cornish vs Randolph vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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.
| Measure | Northfield | Cornish | Randolph | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
1,816Lowest |
4,843 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Cornish School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.