Compare towns
Reading vs Hampton vs Andover vs Wardsboro
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 housing (typical home built 1969).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Andover | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,145Highest |
616Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Wardsboro 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton 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. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Andover 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±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,345 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.