Compare towns
Randolph vs Hanover vs Castleton vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Royalton has the oldest population (median age 43.9).
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 | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
11,685Highest |
4,453 |
2,752Lowest |
| 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% |
-0.8% 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 |
43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest 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% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Royalton 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% |
42.6% 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% |
8%±4.2Lowest 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. |
$103,938±$24k 29% 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. |
$263,200±$73k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% 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 |
$4,675 50% 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% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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. |
20 min 23% 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% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Royalton 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 | #48 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 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Hanover High School | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
10.7Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.