Compare towns
Castleton vs Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Fair Haven
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%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Castleton | Hooksett | Plaistow | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
15,057Highest |
7,861 |
2,724Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Fair Haven 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven 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% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%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% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% 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% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Plaistow 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.