Compare towns
Braintree vs Castleton vs Hooksett vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Braintree | Castleton | Hooksett | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
4,453 |
15,057Highest |
784Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Benson 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hooksett School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.