What stands out worked out from the figures below

Medway has the highest household income ($174k).

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	Medway	North Reading
People
Population	13,436Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±2.3Lowest about the MA average	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA
	North Reading and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Medway and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	North Reading and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$173,750±$18kHighest 67% above MA	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA
	Medway and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$617,300±$21kLowest 10% above MA	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$205Lowest 11% below MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,730Lowest 46% above MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.3%±21.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 4% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	20.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading and Medway 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	#40 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Medway	North Reading
High school in town	Medway High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.8Highest	10.1Lowest
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.