Compare towns
Hull vs Reading vs Reading vs Hull
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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 | Hull | Reading | Reading | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,138Lowest |
25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
10,138Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Reading | Hull |
| High school in town | — | — | Reading Memorial High | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
8.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.