Compare towns
Canton vs North Reading vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
North Reading has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Canton | North Reading | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
15,765Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Canton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| Canton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and North 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | North Reading | Reading |
| High school in town | Canton High | North Reading High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.