Compare towns
Randolph vs North Troy 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).
North Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 Troy | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
506Lowest |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
34.1±4.4Lowest 21% 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% |
31.6%±9.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| North Troy 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 VT: 21.4% |
16%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
$50,417±$5kLowest 38% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$121,100±$20kLowest 62% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| 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±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$597±$179Lowest 52% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton 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 |
$2,641Lowest 48% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±30.7Lowest 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% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
63.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
50 minHighest 113% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±8.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| North Troy 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | — | 10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.