What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holliston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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	Holliston	Reading
People
Population	15,094Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±1.9Highest 13% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Holliston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Reading and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Reading and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holliston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$159,817±$9kLowest 54% above MA	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA
	Reading and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$20kLowest 16% above MA	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$225Lowest 3% above MA	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA
	Reading and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,397Highest 57% above MA	$9,320Lowest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Holliston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%	3.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	31.1%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holliston 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	#38 of 282 in MA	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Holliston	Reading
High school in town	Holliston High	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	12.1Lowest
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.