Compare towns

Oxford vs Reading vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oxford has the most affordable homes ($472k 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.

MeasureOxfordReadingReading
People
Population
12,991Lowest
25,612Highest
25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±5.7Highest
16% above U.S.
43.7±2.3Lowest
12% above U.S.
43.7±2.3Lowest
12% above U.S.
Oxford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Oxford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Oxford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,953±$23kLowest
60% above U.S.
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$472,400±$20kLowest
42% above U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,415±$87Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,442Lowest
107% above U.S.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.3%±15.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
14% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #78 of 149 in CT #50 of 282 in MA #50 of 282 in MA
School district Oxford School District — Reading
High school in town Oxford High School — Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
—
12.1Highest
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.