Compare towns
Randolph vs North Bennington vs Brookfield vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | North Bennington | Brookfield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,336Lowest |
1,486 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
43.9±10 about the VT average |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Brookfield and North Bennington 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% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington 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% VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| North Bennington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Brookfield 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 |
$313,000±$40k about the VT average |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Brookfield and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| North Bennington and Randolph 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 |
$5,590Highest 11% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and North Bennington 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — | — |
| 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.