Compare towns
Guildhall vs Ripton vs Castleton 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 most homeowners (93.7%).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Lancaster has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Ripton | Castleton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 371Lowest |
508 |
4,453Highest |
2,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
38.6±8.5 about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Guildhall 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Guildhall 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. |
$1,036±$221 27% 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. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,225 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton 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 |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.