Compare towns
Northfield vs Randolph vs Unity 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).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
4,843 |
1,375Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Unity and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Unity 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. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% 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% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Unity School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Randolph Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.