Compare towns
Randolph vs Castleton vs Jay vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Jay | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,007 |
4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.5±7.7 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Jay 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
| Braintree and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$25kHighest 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Randolph and Jay 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 |
— | $840±$405Lowest 32% 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 | $4,507Highest 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 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 | 14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Braintree 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.