Compare towns
Randolph vs Sheldon vs Brookline 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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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.
| Measure | Randolph | Sheldon | Brookline | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
2,267 |
531Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Brookline and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Castleton 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Brookline and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Brookline 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
| Brookline and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | 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 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.