Compare towns
Reading vs Athol vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Athol | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
12,011Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Athol and Reading 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 |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Reading |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.