Compare towns
Hooksett vs Castleton vs Sandgate 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 the highest household income ($118k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Sandgate | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
4,453 |
435Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest 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 |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest 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% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% 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% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% 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±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% 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±$195Lowest 20% 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. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 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 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above 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% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | #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.