What stands out worked out from the figures below

Longmeadow has the most affordable homes ($454k median).

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Longmeadow	Reading
People
Population	15,696Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.7Highest 12% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Longmeadow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.8%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Longmeadow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Longmeadow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$149,601±$24kLowest 44% above MA	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA
	Reading and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$454,100±$20kLowest 19% below MA	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,682±$423Lowest 5% below MA	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA
	Reading and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,236Lowest 54% above MA	$9,320Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	4.1%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 15% below MA	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	24.7%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Reading and Longmeadow 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	#51 of 282 in MA	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Longmeadow	Reading
High school in town	Longmeadow High	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.