Compare towns
North Reading vs Reading vs Sutton vs Medway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Medway has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Reading | Sutton | Medway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
25,612Highest |
9,452Lowest |
13,436 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.7±2.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Sutton 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Sutton 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.2 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$173,750±$18kHighest 67% above MA |
| Medway and 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$617,300±$21k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,575±$205 11% 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,730 46% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
35.3%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Sutton 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #40 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | — | Sutton | Medway |
| High school in town | North Reading High | — | Sutton High School | Medway High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.6 |
13.8Highest |
| 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.