Compare towns
Reading vs Ashfield vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k 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.
| Measure | Reading | Ashfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
1,893Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | — | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Reading |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.