Compare towns
Randolph vs Sunapee vs Castleton vs Braintree
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%).
Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Sunapee | Castleton | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
3,416 |
4,453 |
1,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Braintree 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% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Sunapee and Braintree 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. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Randolph 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. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sunapee School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.