Compare towns
Lincoln vs Castleton vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Orford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Lincoln | Castleton | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,461 |
4,453Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±10.1 20% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Orford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$54kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Orford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,000±$38kHighest about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,143±$498 19% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Orford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,984Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lincoln and Orford 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 | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.