Compare towns
North Reading vs Reading vs Windham 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 most affordable homes ($711k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Middleton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Windham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
25,612Highest |
16,038 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest 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% |
3.8%±1.8 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±$25kLowest 83% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
| Windham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24kLowest 114% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above 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±$356 60% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693 211% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,785Lowest 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% 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% |
21.9%±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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Reading | Windham School District | Middleton |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Reading Memorial High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.