Compare towns
Randolph vs Barre vs Castleton vs Royalton
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 (-0.1%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Royalton has the most people working from home (17.8%).
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 | Barre | Castleton | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
8,412Highest |
4,453 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
| Royalton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| Randolph and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| 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 7% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 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 | 7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 12% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
10.7Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.