Compare towns
Randolph vs Castleton vs Plainfield vs North Bennington
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).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (80.9%).
North Bennington has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Plainfield | North Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,007 |
4,453Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+4.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
43.9±10 about the VT average |
| Randolph and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington and Randolph 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| North Bennington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,069±$11kHighest 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$68,571±$10kLowest 16% 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 | $235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$313,000±$40k about the VT average |
| Plainfield and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$198Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
| North Bennington and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,590Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph and North Bennington 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.