Compare towns
Randolph vs Keene vs Northfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Northfield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
22,939Highest |
5,920 |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Highest 4% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 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% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Keene and Randolph 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. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Northfield 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. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% 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. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene and Randolph 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Keene School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Keene High School | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
10.0 |
— |
| 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.