Compare towns

Randolph vs Hanover vs Castleton

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).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureRandolphHanoverCastleton
People
Population
4,843
11,685Highest
4,453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.4±7.4Highest
4% above U.S.
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
Randolph and Castleton 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%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Randolph and Castleton 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%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
36.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,758±$6k
5% below U.S.
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,700±$38k
16% below U.S.
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,172±$173
17% below U.S.
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,698
51% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±17.5
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Hanover 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%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minHighest
22% below U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #55 of 70 in VT #1 of 120 in NH #39 of 70 in VT
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Dresden School District · Hanover School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town Randolph Union High School Hanover High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.4Lowest
10.7Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.