Compare towns
Longmeadow vs Reading vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Longmeadow has the most affordable homes ($454k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Longmeadow | Reading | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,696Lowest |
25,612 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.7Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% 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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20%±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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Longmeadow and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $149,601±$24k 44% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% 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 |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,682±$423Lowest 5% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Reading and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,236 54% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Longmeadow and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 15% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.7%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest 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 | #179 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 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.