Compare towns
North Reading vs Maynard vs Reading vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most renters (25% rent).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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.
| Measure | North Reading | Maynard | Reading | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
10,712Lowest |
25,612Highest |
20,064 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
| Maynard 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Reading 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Holden 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% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Holden 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 42% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$141,923±$11k 37% above MA |
| 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 26% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,648±$214Lowest 6% below MA |
| 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 62% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,359Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Maynard 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Maynard | Reading | Wachusett |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Maynard High | Reading Memorial High | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
9.7Lowest |
12.1 |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.