What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).

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	Hamilton	North Reading
People
Population	7,600Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Hamilton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hamilton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hamilton 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+	68.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hamilton 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	$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	North Reading and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA
	Hamilton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
	North Reading and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,693Lowest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±23.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hamilton 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	#36 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Hamilton-Wenham	North Reading
High school in town	Hamilton-Wenham Regional High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	10.1Lowest
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.