Compare towns
Heath vs Reading vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most homeowners (88.3%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Heath | Reading | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
25,612Highest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Heath and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,351Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Reading | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.