What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).

North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Hull	North Reading
People
Population	10,138Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	North Reading and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,081±$187Lowest 18% above MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
	North Reading and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,089Lowest about the MA average	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 14% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading and Hull 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	#66 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Hull	North Reading
High school in town	Hull High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.8Lowest	10.1Highest
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.