Compare towns
Randolph vs Sunapee vs Williston vs Castleton
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 the most renters (32.8% rent).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Sunapee | Williston | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
3,416Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Williston and Sunapee 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±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Williston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Williston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 51% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Sunapee School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.