Compare towns

Reading vs Hampton Falls 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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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.

MeasureReadingHampton FallsAndover
People
Population
699
2,328Highest
616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
49.2±5.1Lowest
26% above U.S.
Reading and Hampton Falls 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%
19.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hampton Falls 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%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Hampton Falls 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%
54.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hampton Falls 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.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$102,500±$38k
27% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$377,200±$72kLowest
13% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$382,900±$68k
15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,852±$475Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,389±$364
about the U.S. average
Hampton Falls 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,190Lowest
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
32 min
22% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8Lowest
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
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Hampton Falls School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.