What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).

Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k 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	Halifax
People
Population	15,765Highest	7,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA	41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA
	North Reading and Halifax 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%	22.2%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Halifax 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%	18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Halifax and North 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Halifax 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±$25kHighest 42% above MA	$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA
	North Reading and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA	$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA	$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average
	North Reading and Halifax 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	$6,840Lowest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Highest MA: 10%	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	35 minHighest 22% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#33 of 282 in MA	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Halifax
High school in town	North Reading High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1	—
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.