What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newbury has the oldest population (median age 55.1).

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Newbury	Reading
People
Population	6,777Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±4.8Highest 38% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	17.1%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Reading and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Newbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Newbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$174,868±$59kHighest 68% above MA	$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA
	Newbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$840,600±$40kHighest 50% above MA	$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA
	Newbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,806±$1kLowest about the MA average	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA
	Reading and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,661Lowest 11% above MA	$9,320Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±26.7Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Newbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 18% below MA	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	21.5%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Reading and Newbury 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	#137 of 282 in MA	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Triton	Reading
High school in town	Triton Regional High School	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	12.1Highest
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.