Compare towns
North Reading vs Exeter vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Exeter | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765Lowest |
16,151 |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 83% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Reading and North 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 114% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Reading |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Exeter High School | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.