Compare towns
Castleton vs Hooksett vs Waterville
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%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
15,057Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Hooksett 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% |
32.1%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% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% 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% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Waterville 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Waterville 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.