Compare towns
Reading vs Hampton Beach vs Andover vs Peacham
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 most homeowners (84.9%).
Hampton Beach has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | Hampton Beach | Andover | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
2,605Highest |
616Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Peacham 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peacham 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±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| Andover and Peacham 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. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach 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. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Andover and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.