Compare towns
North Reading vs Reading vs Townsend vs Middleton
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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Townsend | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
25,612Highest |
9,100Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Reading and Middleton 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Middleton 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| 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 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| 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 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$8,785 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Reading | North Middlesex | Middleton |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Reading Memorial High | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.1 |
13.1Highest |
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| 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.