Compare towns
Castleton vs Guildhall vs Lancaster vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (10.6%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Castleton | Guildhall | Lancaster | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
371Lowest |
2,230 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±7.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5 about the U.S. average |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Guildhall and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guildhall and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$66,765±$20k 17% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24k 40% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$850±$717 40% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,225 35% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Castleton 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.