What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).

North Reading has the most affordable 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	Harvard	North Reading
People
Population	6,927Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Harvard and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	North Reading and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% 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	72.5%±51.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975 11 yrs newer than MA	1975 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Harvard	North Reading
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.