Compare towns
Unity vs Reading vs Windham vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Unity | Reading | Windham | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
699 |
594Lowest |
4,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Unity and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Windham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$228,000±$62kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,099±$85Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,143Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlestown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.