Compare towns
Randolph vs Surry vs Middlesex 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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Surry | Middlesex | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
1,052Lowest |
1,943 |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Surry and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Surry 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% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry 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% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Surry and Middlesex 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. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Surry 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. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Surry and Middlesex 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. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% 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% |
33.3%±74.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Surry 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.