Compare towns
Northborough vs Reading vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northborough has the oldest population (median age 45).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k 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 | Reading | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,750 |
25,612Highest |
15,702Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northborough and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,199±$19k 90% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,919±$269 36% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,983 156% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Northborough 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Reading | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Algonquin Regional High | Reading Memorial High | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.