Compare towns
North Reading vs Townsend vs Upton vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
9,100 |
8,189Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% 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 |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Upton and 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest 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% |
2.9%±0.7 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±$33k 50% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Reading and Upton 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Reading |
| High school in town | North Reading High | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Valley | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.2 |
12.1 |
| 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.