Compare towns
Randolph vs St. Johnsbury vs Northfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
St. Johnsbury has the most people working from home (17.6%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
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 | St. Johnsbury | Northfield | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
7,368Highest |
5,920 |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
42.8±3.8Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| St. Johnsbury 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 VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.2Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kHighest 5% below VT |
$57,738±$9kLowest 29% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% 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±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Randolph and Northfield 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 |
$914±$44Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton 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 |
$3,916 22% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
48%±11Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
59.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1944Lowest 32 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| St. Johnsbury 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 | #60 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | — | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
— |
| 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.