Compare towns

Castleton vs Hampstead vs Pelham

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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

MeasureCastletonHampsteadPelham
People
Population
4,453Lowest
9,102
14,449Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.3±6.1Highest
16% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Hampstead and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampstead and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
Pelham and Hampstead 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.
$521,100±$45k
57% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,299±$149
8% below U.S.
$1,425±$88Highest
about the U.S. average
Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±20.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Pelham 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%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham 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 #39 of 70 in VT #49 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Hampstead School District Pelham School District
High school in town None in town None in town Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.