Compare towns
North Reading vs Worcester vs Reading vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Hanover has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Reading | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
207,055Highest |
25,612 |
14,845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| 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 26% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$755,400±$39k 34% above MA |
| 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 28% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$9,342 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Reading | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | North Reading High | South High Community | Reading Memorial High | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.1 |
10.3 |
| 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.