Compare towns
Randolph vs Essex Junction vs Tunbridge 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
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 | Essex Junction | Tunbridge | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
10,803Highest |
1,253Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
39.3±3.1 9% below VT |
42.7±8.3Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Tunbridge 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% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Tunbridge 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% |
52.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Essex Junction 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 |
$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$1,346±$128 9% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
| Essex Junction and Tunbridge 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 |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Essex Junction 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Essex High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.