Compare towns
North Reading vs Everett vs Reading vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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.
| Measure | North Reading | Everett | Reading | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
50,045Highest |
25,612 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 8% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Reading and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Reading and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| North Reading and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Everett | — | Middleton |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Everett High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.