Compare towns
Northfield vs Plainfield vs Castleton 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
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Plainfield | Castleton | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
2,522Lowest |
4,453 |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Randolph and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Plainfield School District | 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 |
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.