What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($587k 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	Pembroke	North Reading
People
Population	18,382Highest	15,765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Pembroke and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Pembroke and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Pembroke and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,285±$17kLowest 41% above MA	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	North Reading and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$586,500±$28kLowest 4% above MA	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA	$2,259±$356Lowest 28% above MA
	Pembroke and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,585Lowest 10% above MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	4%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	21.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading and Pembroke 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	#82 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Pembroke	North Reading
High school in town	Pembroke High School	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.