Compare towns
Maynard vs North Reading vs Reading vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
North Reading has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Maynard | North Reading | Reading | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
15,765 |
25,612Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| North Reading and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| North Reading and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and North 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | North Reading | Reading | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | North Reading High | Reading Memorial High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
10.1 |
12.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.