Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Castleton vs Hooksett vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (14.8%).

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.

MeasureDunbartonCastletonHooksettSutton
People
Population
3,097
4,453
15,057Highest
2,239Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7
23% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
48.1±4.1Highest
24% above U.S.
Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,348±$21k
54% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$484,100±$33kHighest
46% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$362,600±$16k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$70
17% below U.S.
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,656±$614
17% above U.S.
Hooksett and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$7,652
145% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton 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 #33 of 120 in NH #39 of 70 in VT #30 of 120 in NH —
School district Dunbarton School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Hooksett School District Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
10.4
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.