Compare towns
Randolph vs Norwich vs Braintree vs Castleton
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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Norwich | Braintree | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
3,640 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Norwich 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 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% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich and Braintree 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Norwich School District | 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 | 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.