Compare towns
Hooksett vs Castleton vs Randolph vs Plaistow
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).
Randolph has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Randolph | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
4,453 |
2,007Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.5±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Randolph 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% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow 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% |
24.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest 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% |
7.3%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$75,069±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above 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 | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$235,400±$25k 29% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above 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 | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,095±$198Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above 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 | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,507 45% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% 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% |
54.3%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 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 | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph and Plaistow 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.