Compare towns
Pownal vs Randolph vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Pownal | Randolph | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
2,007Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 14% above VT |
50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Randolph and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pownal and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
$75,069±$11kHighest 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% 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 | $256,600±$32kHighest 19% below VT |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Pownal and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560 29% below VT |
$4,507Highest 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph and Pownal 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.