What stands out worked out from the figures below

Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).

North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k 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	Concord	North Reading
People
Population	18,223Highest	15,765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.6±2Highest 19% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Concord and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Concord and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	79.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Concord 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	$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA	$2,259±$356Lowest 28% above MA
	Concord and North Reading 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	$9,693Lowest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.2%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#10 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Concord · Concord-Carlisle	North Reading
High school in town	Concord Carlisle High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.1Lowest
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.