What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newfields	Reading
People
Population	2,023Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S.	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Newfields and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	66.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$165,912±$13kLowest 106% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S.	$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S.	$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S.
	Reading and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$9,320Lowest 199% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newfields and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading and Newfields 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	—	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Newfields School District	Reading
High school in town	None in town	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.