Compare towns

Castleton vs Keene vs Lebanon

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 most homeowners (79%).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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.

MeasureCastletonKeeneLebanon
People
Population
4,453Lowest
22,939Highest
14,999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
38.9±3.1Highest
about the U.S. average
Lebanon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Lebanon 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%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lebanon 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$78,445±$8k
about the U.S. average
$98,147±$10kHighest
22% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$252,500±$12k
24% below U.S.
$385,400±$29kHighest
16% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
$1,744±$132Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$8,149Highest
161% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minHighest
27% below U.S.
17 min
35% below U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT #81 of 120 in NH #29 of 120 in NH
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Keene School District Lebanon School District
High school in town None in town Keene High School Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Highest
11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.