What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cohasset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Reading has the most affordable 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	Cohasset	Reading
People
Population	8,427Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±4.4Highest 10% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Cohasset and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Cohasset and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Reading and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Cohasset and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$199,306±$53kHighest 92% above MA	$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA
	Cohasset and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA	$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA	$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,320Lowest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±15.5Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3%Lowest MA: 10%	3.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 28% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	25.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Reading and Cohasset 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	#41 of 282 in MA	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Cohasset	Reading
High school in town	Cohasset High School	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.