Compare towns
North Reading vs Pembroke vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Pembroke | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765Lowest |
18,382 |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Pembroke 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% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and North 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% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$146,285±$17kLowest 41% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% 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 |
$586,500±$28kLowest 4% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest 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 | #82 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Pembroke | Reading |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Pembroke High School | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.