What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Reading	Thompson
People
Population	15,765Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Reading and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Highest 211% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3% U.S.: 65.2%	84.3% U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#33 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	North Reading	Thompson School District
High school in town	North Reading High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.