What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).

Reading has the shortest commute (31 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.

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

Measure	Bolton	Reading
People
Population	5,737Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Reading and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bolton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Reading and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bolton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA	$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA
	Bolton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$796,000±$49kLowest 42% above MA	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA
	Reading and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA
	Reading and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,320Lowest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Reading and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	3.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Bolton 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	#28 of 282 in MA	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Reading
High school in town	Nashoba Regional	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.