What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).

North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Dalton	North Reading
People
Population	6,256Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Dalton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 24% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#192 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Central Berkshire	North Reading
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	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.