Compare towns
Reading vs Hampstead 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
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Reading | Hampstead | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
9,102Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampstead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Hampstead School District | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.