Compare towns
Randolph vs Bennington vs Middlesex vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Middlesex | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
15,249Highest |
1,943Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest 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 |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Bennington and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Randolph 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% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Middlesex and Randolph 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Bennington 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.