Compare towns

Reading vs Windham vs Ripton vs Middletown Springs

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 renters (15.1% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middletown Springs has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

MeasureReadingWindhamRiptonMiddletown Springs
People
Population
699
16,038Highest
508Lowest
747
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
49.2±5.1
26% above U.S.
Reading and Middletown Springs 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%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Middletown Springs 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%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±2.5
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%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,000±$19k
5% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$82,000±$12kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$377,200±$72k
13% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$262,200±$24kLowest
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
—
$1,208±$438
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,754
84% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,595Lowest
47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Windham 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 — #13 of 120 in NH — —
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Windham School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town None in town Windham High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
— —
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.