Compare towns
Reading vs Hooksett vs Wakefield 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
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Wakefield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
15,057Lowest |
27,793Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wakefield and Hooksett 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #179 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Hooksett 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 | 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.