What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has the most kids (22.3% under 18).

Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).

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	Wellfleet
People
Population	15,765Highest	4,404Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA	58.4±4.1Highest 46% above MA
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	14.4%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	64.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Wellfleet 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 42% above MA	$117,938±$27kLowest 13% above MA
	North Reading and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA	$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA	$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA
	North Reading and Wellfleet 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	$4,862Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Wellfleet 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%	9.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975 11 yrs newer than MA	1975 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading and Wellfleet 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	—
School district	North Reading	Wellfleet
High school in town	North Reading High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1	—
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.