Compare towns
Cavendish vs Hanover 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
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.
| Measure | Cavendish | Hanover | Windham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
11,685 |
16,038Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Windham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.