Compare towns
Randolph vs Castleton vs Nanticoke 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Nanticoke has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
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 | Nanticoke | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
4,453 |
1,683Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4% 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 |
41.5±6.4Highest 7% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Nanticoke 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke and Castleton 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Nanticoke 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% |
15.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% 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% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$69,432±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$941±$314Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| 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 51% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,171 about the U.S. average |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±37.8 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% 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. |
1980Highest same as 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. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Northfield 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 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | 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.


