What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Oxford	Reading
People
Population	13,385Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Reading and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Reading and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Reading and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,622Lowest 23% below MA	$9,320Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	16.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#245 of 282 in MA	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Oxford	Reading
High school in town	Oxford High	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.