Compare towns
Reading vs Stratham vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Stratham | Windham | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
7,754 |
16,038Highest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Stratham 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish and Stratham 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. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham 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. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham 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. |
$2,511±$377 78% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Windham and Stratham 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. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Reading 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Windham School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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| 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.