Compare towns
Lancaster vs Castleton vs Guildhall vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Castleton | Guildhall | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,230 |
4,453Highest |
371Lowest |
4,105 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5 about the U.S. average |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±7.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1 7% above U.S. |
| Guildhall and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6 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+ | 19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guildhall and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$74,318±$14k 8% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$294,800±$30k 11% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,239±$182Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Pittsfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,225 35% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$5,694Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3 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 | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pittsfield 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Pittsfield High School |
| 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.