Compare towns
Randolph vs Wheelock vs Castleton vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Wheelock | Castleton | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
717Lowest |
4,453 |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Wheelock 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 VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
| Braintree and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton 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 |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Braintree 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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 |
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.