Compare towns
Randolph vs Dover vs Fairlee vs Castleton
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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Dover | Fairlee | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,466 |
1,066Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Randolph and Fairlee 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Dover and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% 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 | $4,698 7% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Castleton 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Fairlee 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 |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.