Compare towns
Cavendish vs Keene 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 highest household income ($89k).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Keene | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242 |
22,939Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
| Cavendish and Reading 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. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish 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. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
| Keene and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Keene School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.