Compare towns
Swanton vs Castleton vs Randolph vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Swanton | Castleton | Randolph | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,670 |
4,453 |
4,843Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Randolph and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Randolph and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Swanton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370 13% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 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 | 20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.