Compare towns
Medway vs Upton vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medway has the highest household income ($174k).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
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 | Medway | Upton | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,436 |
8,189Lowest |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
| Upton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Medway 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and North Reading 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Medway and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $617,300±$21k 10% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$205 11% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,730 46% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.3%±21.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Upton 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medway | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Reading |
| High school in town | Medway High | Blackstone Valley | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.8Highest |
11.2 |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.