Compare towns
Northfield vs Randolph vs Stratton vs Castleton
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Randolph | Stratton | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
4,843 |
532Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton 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% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 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% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Stratton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Randolph Union High School | — | None in town |
| 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.