What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k median).

Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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	Dover
People
Population	15,765Highest	5,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA	44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA
	Dover 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%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2 MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	84.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dover 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	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA	$250,001Highest 140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA	$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Lowest 28% above MA	$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA
	Dover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Lowest 62% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7% MA: 10%	2.7% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	97.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dover and North Reading 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	#33 of 282 in MA	#1 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Dover · Dover-Sherborn
High school in town	North Reading High	Dover-Sherborn Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Highest	9.8Lowest
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.