What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most affordable homes ($448k median).

North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Pelham	North Reading
People
Population	1,335Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±8.4Highest 13% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Pelham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	North Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,472Lowest 25% above MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 21% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Pelham and North Reading 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	—	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Pelham	North Reading
High school in town	None in town	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.1
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.