Compare towns

Windham vs Castleton vs Randolph vs Bow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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.

MeasureWindhamCastletonRandolphBow
People
Population
16,038Highest
4,453Lowest
4,843
8,335
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.4±7.4
4% above U.S.
41.5±2Highest
7% above U.S.
Bow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5
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+
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$76,758±$6k
5% below U.S.
$172,857±$16k
114% above U.S.
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$278,700±$38k
16% below U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,172±$173
17% below U.S.
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,698
51% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.1%±17.8
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow 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 #13 of 120 in NH #39 of 70 in VT #55 of 70 in VT #26 of 120 in NH
School district Windham School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Bow School District
High school in town Windham High School None in town Randolph Union High School Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
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.