Compare towns
Lancaster vs Castleton vs Schroeppel vs Busti
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Schroeppel has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Schroeppel | Busti |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,113Highest |
4,453Lowest |
7,938 |
7,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±4.7 16% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±2.5 16% above U.S. |
46.6±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Busti and Schroeppel 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% |
22.6%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Schroeppel and Busti 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Busti 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% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.5% 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% |
3.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$73,082±$9k 9% below U.S. |
$67,292±$9k 17% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Schroeppel 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. |
$188,400±$14k 43% below U.S. |
$164,600±$12kLowest 51% 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. |
$972±$69 31% below U.S. |
$1,085±$106 23% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Busti 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 |
$4,546 46% above U.S. |
$3,876 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Busti 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Busti and Schroeppel 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 | #277 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PHOENIX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | JOHN C BIRDLEBOUGH HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.