Compare towns
Randolph vs Ripton vs Castleton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Castleton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,007 |
508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton 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±$11k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
| Ripton and Ludlow 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 |
$1,018±$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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 34 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.