Compare towns
Randolph vs White River Junction vs Wilder vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Wilder | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
3,364 |
3,087Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Wilder and Randolph 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| White River Junction 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±$38k 12% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
| White River Junction and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 7% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 12% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — | — |
| 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.