Compare towns
Randolph vs Putnam vs Castleton vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Putnam | Castleton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
540Lowest |
4,453 |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Brookfield 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% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Putnam 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. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| 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 51% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.