Compare towns

Castleton vs Lancaster vs St. Albans

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).
Lancaster has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
St. Albans has the most expensive homes ($363k 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.

MeasureCastletonLancasterSt. Albans
People
Population
4,453
2,230Lowest
7,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
38.6±8.5
about the U.S. average
41.3±2.8Highest
6% above U.S.
St. Albans and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.1%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Lancaster and St. Albans 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%
19.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
St. Albans 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%
23.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±4.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$66,765±$20kLowest
17% below U.S.
$90,060±$19kHighest
12% above U.S.
St. Albans 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.
$200,500±$24kLowest
40% below U.S.
$363,300±$22kHighest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,036±$221Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,460±$152Highest
3% above U.S.
St. Albans and Castleton 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
$4,225
35% above U.S.
$4,689Highest
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±18.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
73.6%±20.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. Albans 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%
19.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
65.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
St. Albans 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 #46 of 70 in VT
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.