Compare towns
Randolph vs Windham vs Hanover vs Castleton
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 housing (typical home built 1971).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Windham | Hanover | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
16,038Highest |
8,479 |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 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% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%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% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249 60% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 51% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Castleton 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 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 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Windham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.