Compare towns
Randolph vs Bennington 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 renters (32.8% rent).
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
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.
| Measure | Randolph | Bennington | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,588Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Highest 8% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bennington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Castleton 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% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Bennington 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 16% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Randolph 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. |
$5,944Highest 91% 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% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Contoocook Valley School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.