Compare towns
Randolph vs Westminster vs Arlington 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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Westminster | Arlington | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
2,999 |
2,598Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Arlington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Arlington and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 13% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
10.6Highest |
10.6Highest |
— |
| 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.