What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Hampstead
People
Population	699Lowest	9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S.	45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Reading and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampstead and Reading 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%	21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.6Highest 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	$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S.	$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S.	$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,299±$149Highest 8% below U.S.
	Hampstead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading and Hampstead 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%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading and Hampstead 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	—	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76	Hampstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.