Compare towns
Castleton vs Guildhall vs Lunenburg vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most people working from home (6.2%).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Castleton | Guildhall | Lunenburg | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
371Lowest |
1,267 |
381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.6±7.8 about the VT average |
51.2±4.2 19% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Guildhall and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Guildhall 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 VT: 43.8% |
33.9% VT: 43.8% |
14.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$53,125±$9kLowest 35% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| 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 29% below VT |
$321,200±$62kHighest about the VT average |
$164,000±$11kLowest 48% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Guildhall and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$850±$717Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,025±$172 17% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$4,625Highest 8% below VT |
$2,702Lowest 46% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.5%±57.6 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
4.9%±2.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Castleton and Lunenburg 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.