Compare towns
Randolph vs Orleans 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
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Orleans | Brookfield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
809Lowest |
1,486 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Brookfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 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% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Randolph 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% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% 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 |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% 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 | $4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 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 |
31 min 33% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 |
| 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.