Compare towns
Lempster vs Castleton vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Lempster | Castleton | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lempster and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,607±$12k 7% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,900±$29k 27% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$330,300±$20kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,558Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,316 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoddard and Castleton 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 | — |
| School district | Lempster School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | None 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.