Compare towns
Randolph vs Lee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Lee | Castleton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
5,719Highest |
4,453 |
1,486Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% 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. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Lee and Brookfield 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Brookfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Lee 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. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Brookfield 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. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Lee and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,980 28% 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% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Lee 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Lee | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.