Compare towns
Atkinson vs Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Atkinson | Castleton | Fair Haven | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
4,453 |
2,724Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Hampstead and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.