Compare towns

Randolph vs Barre vs Castleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the most people working from home (12.9%).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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.

MeasureRandolphBarreCastleton
People
Population
4,843
5,572Highest
4,453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.4±7.4
4% above U.S.
43.8±8.5Highest
13% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Barre and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,758±$6k
5% below U.S.
$107,727±$13kHighest
33% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,700±$38k
16% below U.S.
$394,300±$55kHighest
19% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,172±$173Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,030±$713Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,698
51% above U.S.
$5,163Highest
66% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±27.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
22% below U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
12.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Randolph and Barre 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 #134 of 282 in MA #39 of 70 in VT
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Quabbin Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town Randolph Union High School Quabbin Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.4Lowest
12.9Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.