Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Hooksett vs Cavendish
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 people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Ripton | Hooksett | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ripton 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. |
— | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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 | — | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Hooksett School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → |
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.