Compare towns
Hamilton vs North Reading vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Hamilton | North Reading | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Lowest |
15,765 |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Reading and Hamilton 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| North Reading and Reading 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 |
$9,693 62% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Hamilton 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 | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | North Reading | Reading |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | North Reading High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.