Compare towns
Guildhall vs Castleton vs Northfield vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Northfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Guildhall | Castleton | Northfield | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 371Lowest |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 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 | $4,625 48% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| 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.