Compare towns
Randolph vs Middlebury vs Castleton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the oldest population (median age 40.4).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% 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 | Middlebury | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
9,175Highest |
4,453Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Middlebury 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±$38k 12% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Randolph and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 7% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.