Compare towns
Lyndon vs Castleton vs Kirby vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Kirby has the most kids (30% under 18).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Lyndon | Castleton | Kirby | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,590Highest |
4,453 |
756Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7 12% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
38.8±7.1 10% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Kirby and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Castleton and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$21k 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$302,900±$63kHighest 4% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Kirby and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$123 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Kirby and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,846 24% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,597Highest 9% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Kirby and Chester 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 | #44 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
VT 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.