Compare towns
Reading vs Exeter vs Cavendish vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Exeter | Cavendish | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
16,151Highest |
1,242 |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% 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 | 18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 18 photos → | 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.