Compare towns
Randolph vs Peacham vs Castleton vs Braintree
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%).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Peacham | Castleton | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
887Lowest |
4,453 |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham 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% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Braintree 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Peacham and Braintree 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 |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Peacham and Randolph 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 |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% 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 |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Peacham 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% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Peacham School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.