Compare towns
Mapleton vs Strafford vs Hampstead vs Castle Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Strafford | Hampstead | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
4,306 |
9,102Highest |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$54,250±$14kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$950±$574 33% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Strafford School District | Hampstead School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.