Compare towns
Randolph vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 47).
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.
| Measure | Randolph | Hanover | Castleton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
11,685Highest |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
| 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% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
47±5.9Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above 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. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below 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% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Hanover 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 | #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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.