Compare towns

Andover vs Durham vs Windham vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureAndoverDurhamWindhamReading
People
Population
616
10,681Highest
594Lowest
699
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±5.1
26% above U.S.
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.5%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
6.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
70.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,500±$38k
27% above U.S.
$112,070±$25kHighest
39% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
Durham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$382,900±$68k
15% above U.S.
$498,000±$45kHighest
50% above U.S.
$353,900±$20kLowest
6% above U.S.
$377,200±$72k
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,389±$364Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,302±$211
8% below U.S.
—
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
Andover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,190Lowest
66% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$5,754
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.4%±47.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.4%±19.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
29.6%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Andover and Reading 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 — #9 of 120 in NH — —
School district — — — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school 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.