Compare towns
Randolph vs Strafford vs Wilder 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Strafford | Wilder | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,372Lowest |
3,087 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Strafford and Wilder 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Randolph and Wilder 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford 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.