Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Castleton vs Sandown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | South Hooksett | Castleton | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902 |
4,453Lowest |
6,628Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.7Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sandown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.2%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 61% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$135,040±$25kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Sandown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$483,400±$44kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Sandown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217 4% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,893±$721Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Sandown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801 118% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,801Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.1%±48.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±13.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Timberlane Regional 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.