Compare towns
Northfield vs Sheffield 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).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
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 | Sheffield | Castleton | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
573Lowest |
4,453 |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42±8Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Sheffield 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% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Randolph 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% 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 |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 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±$207 18% below VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton 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 |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Lowest 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% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 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 |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Highest 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 | — | #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.