What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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	Worcester
People
Population	15,765Highest	831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S.	47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S.
	Worcester 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%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Worcester 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Worcester 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±$25kHighest 83% above U.S.	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S.	$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S.	$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Highest 211% above U.S.	$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Reading and Worcester 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Reading and Worcester 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	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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

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.