Compare towns
Milton vs Hooksett vs Andover 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
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Andover has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Milton | Hooksett | Andover | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,587 |
15,057Lowest |
36,652Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
| Milton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 210% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Hooksett School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Reading |
| High school in town | Milton High | None in town | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.