Compare towns
Randolph vs Castleton vs Stowe 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 the shortest commute (18 min average).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
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 | Stowe | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,007 |
4,453 |
5,285Highest |
808Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
| Randolph and Ludlow 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Castleton 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Stowe 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% |
66.7%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% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
| Stowe 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±$25k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% below VT |
| Stowe and Castleton 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 34 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
21 minHighest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Randolph 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 | Stowe Town School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Stowe High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.