Compare towns
Randolph vs Keene vs Castleton vs Braintree
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Keene | Castleton | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
22,939Highest |
4,453 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Braintree and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Keene and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 51% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Keene School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.