Compare towns
Castleton vs Ira vs Lancaster vs Northfield
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).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Northfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Ira | Lancaster | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
381Lowest |
3,216 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Ira and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Castleton 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Lancaster 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% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Ira 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. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield 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 20% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% 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 |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | White Mountains Regional School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.