What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).

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	Hull
People
Population	15,765Highest	10,138Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA	56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9%	4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA	$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA
	North Reading and Hull 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	$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA	$2,081±$187Lowest 18% above MA
	North Reading and Hull 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	$6,089Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Hull 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%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	33 minLowest 14% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading and Hull 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	#66 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Hull
High school in town	North Reading High	Hull High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Highest	8.8Lowest
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.