Compare towns
North Reading vs Townsend vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Townsend | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765Highest |
9,100 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and North 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Upton 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading and Upton 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | North Reading High | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.