Compare towns
Randolph vs Halifax vs Castleton vs Brookfield
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Halifax | Castleton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
7,748Highest |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±5.9Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Halifax 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Castleton 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% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield 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% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 51% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Halifax | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.