Compare towns
Otis vs Reading vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the most affordable homes ($397k 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 | Otis | Reading | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,898±$6kLowest 5% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$40kLowest 29% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$924Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Farmington River Reg | — | Reading |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| 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.