What stands out worked out from the figures below

Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).

North Reading has the highest household income ($148k).

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	Eastham	North Reading
People
Population	5,811Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,200±$63kHighest 30% above MA	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA
	Eastham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,747±$101Lowest about the MA average	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Lowest 17% below MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Eastham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975 11 yrs newer than MA	1975 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 36% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading and Eastham 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	#17 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Eastham · Nauset	North Reading
High school in town	Nauset Regional High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.1Highest
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.