Compare towns
Reading vs Ashby vs Reading vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k 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.
| Measure | Reading | Ashby | Reading | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
3,211Lowest |
25,612Highest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| North Reading and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| North Reading and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 56% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Reading | North Reading |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Reading Memorial High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.