Compare towns
Cavendish vs Hooksett vs Reading vs Whitingham
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.
| Measure | Cavendish | Hooksett | Reading | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
15,057Highest |
699Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Reading and Whitingham 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Whitingham 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Hooksett School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.