Compare towns
North Reading vs Windsor Locks vs Reading vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Reading | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
12,579Lowest |
25,612Highest |
14,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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 83% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39k 127% above U.S. |
| Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
| 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 211% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$9,342 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Hanover 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | — | Reading | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | North Reading High | — | Reading Memorial High | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.