Compare towns
Georgetown vs North Reading vs Reading vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
North Reading has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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.
| Measure | Georgetown | North Reading | Reading | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474Lowest |
15,765 |
25,612Highest |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
| Millis and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.1% MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis 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 | $151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
| Reading and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
| North Reading and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,272Lowest 21% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$9,344 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and North Reading 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | North Reading | Reading | Millis |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | North Reading High | Reading Memorial High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.1 |
12.1Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.