Compare towns
Castle Hill vs Hancock vs Mapleton vs Crystal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Crystal has the most affordable homes ($129k 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 | Castle Hill | Hancock | Mapleton | Crystal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 281 |
1,791 |
1,884Highest |
247Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±15.8 49% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5 38% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
63.2±8.4Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Crystal and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±11.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 44.8%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
49%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Crystal and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,250±$14k 33% below U.S. |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$48,125±$13kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $145,300±$18k 56% below U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$129,200±$60kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$574 33% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,563±$922Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Crystal and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449 54% below U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$943Lowest 70% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castle Hill and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hancock and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.