What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($587k median).

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	Pembroke
People
Population	15,765Lowest	18,382Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA	45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA
	Pembroke 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%	19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Pembroke 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%	19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pembroke and North Reading 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 MA: 47.3%	44.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pembroke 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 42% above MA	$146,285±$17kLowest 41% above MA
	North Reading and Pembroke 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	$586,500±$28kLowest 4% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Lowest 28% above MA	$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA
	Pembroke and North 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	$6,585Lowest 10% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	21.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading and Pembroke 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	#82 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Pembroke
High school in town	North Reading High	Pembroke High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.