Compare towns
Northfield vs Newark vs Castleton vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Newark | Castleton | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
727Lowest |
4,453 |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
41.4±6Highest 4% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Newark and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Castleton 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 VT: 43.8% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
| Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Newark 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | 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 |
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.