Compare towns
Busti vs Castleton vs Ellicott vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Ellicott has the most affordable homes ($121k median).
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1952).
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 | Busti | Castleton | Ellicott | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,452 |
4,453Lowest |
8,659 |
10,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
45.1±4.7 16% above U.S. |
| Busti and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellicott and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellicott and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,292±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$60,880±$7kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$66,148±$7k 18% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,600±$12k 51% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$120,700±$10kLowest 64% below U.S. |
$202,200±$16k 39% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,085±$106 23% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$875±$46Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$969±$169 31% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,876 24% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,662Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.5%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 40% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Busti and Lancaster 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 | #203 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | FALCONER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SOUTHWESTERN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AT JAMESTOWN | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | FALCONER MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 1 photos → | 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.