What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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	Dummerston	North Reading
People
Population	2,090Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S.	43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Dummerston and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	North Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	56.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S.	$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average	$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S.	$9,693Highest 211% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Reading and Dummerston 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	—	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	North Reading
High school in town	None in town	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.