Compare towns

Hampton Beach vs Castleton vs Bridgewater

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most homeowners (79.7%).

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.

MeasureHampton BeachCastletonBridgewater
People
Population
2,605
4,453Highest
1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
58.3±6.3
50% above U.S.
Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
3.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.8%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.1%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,557±$17kHighest
about the U.S. average
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$82,361±$9k
about the U.S. average
Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$508,900±$76kHighest
53% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$398,600±$65k
20% above U.S.
Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,375±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,125±$201Lowest
20% below U.S.
Hampton Beach and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,115Highest
96% above U.S.
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$2,823Lowest
9% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.7%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.1%±13.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
4% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
26.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #39 of 70 in VT —
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Newfound Area School District
High school 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.