What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).

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	Millis	North Reading
People
Population	8,888Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3Highest 16% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Millis and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Millis and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA
	Millis and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
	North Reading and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,344Lowest 56% above MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±16.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading and Millis 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	#63 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Millis	North Reading
High school in town	Millis High School	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	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.