What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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	Pelham
People
Population	15,765Highest	14,449Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Highest 11% above U.S.	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.
	North Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Reading and Pelham 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 U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham 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 83% above U.S.	$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S.
	North Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S.	$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S.	$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Highest 211% above U.S.	$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	67.3%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Reading and Pelham 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	#48 of 120 in NH
School district	North Reading	Pelham School District
High school in town	North Reading High	Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	10.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.