What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).

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	Harvard
People
Population	15,765Highest	6,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA
	Harvard 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%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	North Reading and Harvard 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 MA: 47.3%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Harvard 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	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA
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%	72.5%±51.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Harvard 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%	4.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975 11 yrs newer than MA	1975 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#33 of 282 in MA	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Harvard
High school in town	North Reading High	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	11.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.