Compare towns
Randolph vs Castleton vs Plainfield vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Rockingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Plainfield | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
4,453 |
2,522Lowest |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
46.4±2.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Rockingham 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockingham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%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% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$70,857±$16kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$210,900±$14kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,062±$101Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 51% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,887 57% 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% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Rockingham 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Plainfield School District | Rockingham School District |
| 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 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.