What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k 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	Hanson
People
Population	15,765Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA	42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA
	North Reading and Hanson 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%	21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Hanson 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%	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson 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%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hanson 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	$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA
	North Reading and Hanson 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	$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA	$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA
	North Reading and Hanson 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	$6,402Lowest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Hanson 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%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#33 of 282 in MA	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	North Reading High	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.