What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Medway has the highest household income ($174k).

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	Medway
People
Population	15,765Highest	13,436Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA	40.7±2.3Lowest about the MA average
	North Reading and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Medway and North Reading 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%	15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	North Reading and Medway 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%	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Medway 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	$173,750±$18kHighest 67% above MA
	Medway 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±$24kHighest 26% above MA	$617,300±$21kLowest 10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA	$1,575±$205Lowest 11% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Highest 62% above MA	$8,730Lowest 46% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	35.3%±21.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Medway 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%	3.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	30 minLowest 4% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	20.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading and Medway 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	#40 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Medway
High school in town	North Reading High	Medway High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	13.8Highest
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.