Compare towns

Randolph vs Windham 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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).

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.

MeasureRandolphWindhamCastletonNorthfield
People
Population
4,843
16,038Highest
4,453Lowest
5,920
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.4±7.4
4% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Highest
6% above U.S.
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Windham 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
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Castleton 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%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.2%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,758±$6k
5% below U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,700±$38k
16% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,172±$173
17% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,698
51% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,878
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
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.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #39 of 70 in VT #42 of 70 in VT
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Windham School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town Randolph Union High School Windham High School None in town Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.4Lowest
12.8Highest
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10.0
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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.