Compare towns

Lancaster vs Castleton vs Plattsburgh

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 renters (26.3% rent).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Plattsburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

MeasureLancasterCastletonPlattsburgh
People
Population
10,113
4,453Lowest
11,830Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±4.7
16% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.2±1.9Highest
16% above U.S.
Plattsburgh and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plattsburgh and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plattsburgh and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,148±$7kLowest
18% below U.S.
$73,854±$23kHighest
9% below U.S.
$71,546±$5k
11% below U.S.
Castleton and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$202,200±$16k
39% below U.S.
$224,800±$71kHighest
32% below U.S.
$179,900±$11kLowest
46% below U.S.
Castleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$969±$169Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,137±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
$1,053±$86
25% below U.S.
Castleton and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,932Highest
58% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,573
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±19
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.9%±12.5Lowest
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
6.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
28% below U.S.
19 minHighest
27% below U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
Work from home
7%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plattsburgh 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 #153 of 484 in NY
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.