Compare towns
Northborough vs Holliston vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Holliston has the most homeowners (87.4%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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.
| Measure | Northborough | Holliston | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,750 |
15,094Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±3 13% above MA |
45.2±1.9Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Holliston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.9% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,199±$19kLowest 47% above MA |
$159,817±$9k 54% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Reading and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $620,000±$24kLowest 10% above MA |
$650,300±$20k 16% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,919±$269 9% above MA |
$1,821±$225Lowest 3% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,983Lowest 33% above MA |
$9,397Highest 57% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Holliston and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
87.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.1%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Holliston and 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 | #35 of 282 in MA | #38 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Holliston | Reading |
| High school in town | Algonquin Regional High | Holliston High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.4Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.