Compare towns
Randolph vs Castleton vs Johnson vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Castleton | Johnson | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
4,453 |
3,450 |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
| Brookfield 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield 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±$38k 12% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$975±$306 21% 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 |
$3,310 34% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | 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 | 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.