Compare towns

Cavendish vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).

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.

MeasureCavendishPelhamReading
People
Population
1,242
14,449Highest
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±5.9
16% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% 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%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Pelham 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%
16.5%±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%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,063±$29k
10% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
Pelham 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±$40kLowest
14% below U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
$377,200±$72k
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,000±$546Lowest
29% below U.S.
$1,425±$88Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,100±$331
22% below U.S.
Pelham 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.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$5,754
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
18.5%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Pelham 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 — #48 of 120 in NH —
School district Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Pelham School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None in town Pelham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
—
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.