Compare towns
Andover vs Hooksett vs Ludlow 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%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Andover | Hooksett | Ludlow | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,990 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
| Hooksett 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. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,890Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.