Compare towns
Walpole vs Brattleboro vs Castleton vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Walpole | Brattleboro | Castleton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690 |
12,122Highest |
4,453 |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.