What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

North Reading has the most renters (15.7% rent).

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	Groton	North Reading
People
Population	11,390Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA
	North Reading and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Groton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Groton 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+	70.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Groton 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	$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA
	Groton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA
	Groton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,693Lowest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Groton 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	#39 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Groton-Dunstable	North Reading
High school in town	Groton Dunstable Regional	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.7Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.