Compare towns
Northborough vs Rowley 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%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Rowley | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,750 |
6,251Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±3 13% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Rowley and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.5% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Rowley 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 47% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| 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±$24kLowest 10% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,919±$269 9% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Triton | Reading |
| High school in town | Algonquin Regional High | None in town | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.