Compare towns
Castleton vs Lancaster vs Poultney
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 expensive homes ($225k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Poultney has the most people working from home (11.3%).
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 | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
10,113Highest |
3,010Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
45.1±4.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Lancaster 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% |
21%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Poultney 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% |
26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$72,617±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Poultney 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. |
$202,200±$16kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$206,200±$18k 38% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Poultney 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. |
$969±$169 31% below U.S. |
$913±$84Lowest 35% 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 |
$4,932Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,520 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Lancaster 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% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Poultney 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.