What stands out worked out from the figures below

Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

North Reading has the most expensive 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	Enfield	North Reading
People
Population	41,090Highest	15,765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±1.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	43±2.8Highest 11% above U.S.
	North Reading and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	North Reading and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Enfield and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Enfield 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	$90,404±$5kLowest 12% above U.S.	$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,900±$7kLowest 24% below U.S.	$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$83Lowest 11% above U.S.	$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,360Lowest 72% above U.S.	$9,693Highest 211% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Reading and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	14.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#123 of 149 in CT	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District	North Reading
High school in town	Enfield High School	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	10.1Lowest
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.