What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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	Wellesley
People
Population	15,765Lowest	30,347Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA	37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wellesley and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	North Reading and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	89%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA	$250,001Highest 140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA	$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Lowest 28% above MA	$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA
	Wellesley and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Lowest 62% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Wellesley 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%	4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wellesley 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	#6 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Wellesley
High school in town	North Reading High	Wellesley Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.