Compare towns
North Reading vs Reading vs Thompson vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the youngest population (median age 43).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Thompson | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
25,612Highest |
9,337Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Reading and Middleton 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 83% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Middleton 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 114% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
| Reading and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| 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 211% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Thompson 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Reading | Thompson School District | Middleton |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Reading Memorial High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
12.1Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.