What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barnard	Reading
People
Population	1,211Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S.	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Reading and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barnard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barnard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Reading and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S.	$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$402,600±$71kLowest 21% above U.S.	$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,038Lowest 94% above U.S.	$9,320Highest 199% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	27.8%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading and Barnard 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	—	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76	Reading
High school in town	None in town	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.