Compare towns
Randolph vs Castleton vs Brookfield 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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Castleton | Brookfield | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Royalton 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,040±$391 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 | $4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Highest |
— | — | 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.