Compare towns
Randolph vs Sharon vs Bridgewater 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 the most renters (32.8% rent).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Sharon | Bridgewater | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,577 |
980Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Bridgewater and Sharon 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% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Sharon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Sharon and Randolph 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 |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$3,418 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bridgewater 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph and Sharon 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 | Sharon School District | — | 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.