Compare towns
Cambridge vs Hooksett vs Arlington vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the most kids (23% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Cambridge | Hooksett | Arlington | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767 |
15,057Highest |
2,598Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 3% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 16% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 57% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | #50 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Hooksett School District | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.