Compare towns
Walpole vs Hooksett vs Reading vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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 | Walpole | Hooksett | Reading | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388 |
15,057Lowest |
25,612 |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
| Reading and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523 173% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Milton 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Hooksett School District | Reading | Milton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
12.4Highest |
| 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.