Compare towns
Randolph vs Plainfield vs Castleton vs Rockingham
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%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Rockingham has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Castleton | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,314Lowest |
4,453 |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
| Plainfield and Rockingham 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% 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±$38k 12% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,062±$101Lowest 14% below VT |
| Randolph and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rockingham and Plainfield 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 | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rockingham School District |
| 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 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.