Compare towns
Castleton vs Hooksett vs Chelsea
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Chelsea has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Hooksett | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
15,057Highest |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
54.1±12.1Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Castleton 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$65,913±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$260,900±$39k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,524±$467 8% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Chelsea 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 |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,762 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Chelsea 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hooksett School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.