Compare towns
Northborough vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Ware | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,750 |
10,048Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Northborough and Reading 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below 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±$24k 10% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,919±$269 9% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 | $7,983 33% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Ware | Reading |
| High school in town | Algonquin Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.1 |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.