Compare towns
Randolph vs Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Castleton
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%).
Bennington has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
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 | Brattleboro | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
15,249Highest |
7,657 |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
44.3±5.9 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.8%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Brattleboro 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% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$52,734±$12kLowest 35% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton 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 |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$234,600±$20k 26% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Randolph and Brattleboro 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 |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,113±$67Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% 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 |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,490Highest 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.1%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Castleton 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% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 12% below VT |
17 min 27% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.