Compare towns
Hooksett vs Castleton vs Goffstown vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Goffstown has the most homeowners (82.7%).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Hooksett | Castleton | Goffstown | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
4,453Lowest |
18,513Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,941 123% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #35 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Goffstown School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Goffstown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
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| 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.