Compare towns
Randolph vs Castleton vs Lyndeborough vs Northfield
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Lyndeborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Lyndeborough | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
4,453 |
1,616Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Randolph 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Lyndeborough 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | — | 10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.