Compare towns
Alstead vs Castleton vs Hampton Beach vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Alstead | Castleton | Hampton Beach | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
4,453Highest |
2,605 |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$110,455±$12kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Marlow 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 | 4 photos → |
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.