Compare towns
Randolph vs Castleton vs Fairlee vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k 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 | Randolph | Castleton | Fairlee | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,007 |
4,453Highest |
1,066 |
808Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.5±7.7 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
| Fairlee and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,069±$11kHighest 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
| Randolph and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
| Ludlow and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% 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 | $4,507 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 34 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph and Ludlow 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.