Compare towns
Lancaster vs Castleton vs Guildhall vs Canaan
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 affordable homes ($216k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216 |
4,453Highest |
371Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Guildhall and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,140±$90Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 35% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canaan 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 | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.