What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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	North Reading	Dalton
People
Population	15,765Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA
	Dalton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Highest 62% above MA	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	7.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#33 of 282 in MA	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Central Berkshire
High school in town	North Reading High	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	10.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.