Compare towns
Castleton vs Lancaster vs Lunenburg
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (11.5%).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Lancaster | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,216 |
1,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3Lowest 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%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg 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% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Lancaster 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. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Lunenburg 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White Mountains Regional School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.