Compare towns
Castleton vs Dunbarton vs Hooksett vs Northfield
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Castleton | Dunbarton | Hooksett | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
3,097Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dunbarton School District | Hooksett School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.