Compare towns
Randolph vs Waterville vs Castleton vs Northfield
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 oldest population (median age 40.4).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Northfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Waterville | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
17,077Highest |
4,453Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Highest 4% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Castleton 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 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%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Castleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Castleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| 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 17% below U.S. |
$978±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| 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 51% above U.S. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterville 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Waterville Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Waterville Senior High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 10.0 |
| 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.