Compare towns
Reading vs Hampton vs Cavendish vs West Fairlee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Cavendish | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
10,101Highest |
1,242 |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest 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%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Reading 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish and Hampton 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. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Cavendish 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. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,210 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.