Compare towns

Andover vs Ossipee vs Reading vs Brookline

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%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).

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.

MeasureAndoverOssipeeReadingBrookline
People
Population
616
4,521Highest
699
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±5.1
26% above U.S.
50±4.6
29% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
45.1±2.7Lowest
16% above U.S.
Reading and Ossipee 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%
19.5%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Ossipee 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%
26.3%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Ossipee 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%
24.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,500±$38kHighest
27% above U.S.
$90,521±$22k
12% above U.S.
$85,000±$19k
5% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Andover and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$382,900±$68kHighest
15% above U.S.
$325,500±$23k
about the U.S. average
$377,200±$72k
13% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Andover and Reading 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
$1,601±$245
13% above U.S.
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Brookline and Ossipee 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.
$4,401Lowest
41% above U.S.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.4%±47.1
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±16.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ossipee and Andover 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%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
29.6%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
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 — #100 of 120 in NH — —
School district — Governor Wentworth Regional School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 —
High school 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.