Compare towns

Cavendish vs Meredith 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).

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.

MeasureCavendishMeredithReading
People
Population
1,242
6,758Highest
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±5.9Lowest
16% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
51.1±7.6
31% above U.S.
Meredith and Reading 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%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
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%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cavendish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,063±$29kHighest
10% above U.S.
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
Cavendish and Meredith 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.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$377,200±$72k
13% above U.S.
Meredith and Reading 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.
$1,149±$304Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,100±$331
22% below U.S.
Meredith 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.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading and Meredith 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%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
18.5%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith 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 — #62 of 120 in NH —
School district Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None in town Inter-Lakes High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
—
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.