Compare towns
Randolph vs Lancaster 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
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Castleton | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
8,606Highest |
4,453 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%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. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Castleton 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
50.3%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% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$103,938±$24k 29% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Castleton 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% |
1.4%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% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above 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% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #39 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Nashoba | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Highest |
— | — | 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.