Compare towns

Randolph vs Plainfield vs Royalton vs Castleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Royalton has the oldest population (median age 43.9).
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.

MeasureRandolphPlainfieldRoyaltonCastleton
People
Population
4,843Highest
2,522Lowest
2,752
4,453
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.4±7.4
4% above U.S.
38.9±6.5
about the U.S. average
43.9±10.1Highest
13% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Royalton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.3%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Randolph and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8%±4.2
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,758±$6k
5% below U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$103,938±$24k
29% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
Plainfield and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,700±$38k
16% below U.S.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$263,200±$73k
21% below U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,172±$173
17% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,040±$391Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,698
51% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,675
50% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
63.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
22% below U.S.
22 minHighest
17% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±7.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Royalton 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 #19 of 120 in NH #48 of 70 in VT #39 of 70 in VT
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Plainfield School District White River Unified School District #79 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town Randolph Union High School None in town White River Valley High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.4Highest
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8.7Lowest
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On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.