What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the highest household income ($166k).

Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).

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	Reading	Eastham
People
Population	25,612Highest	5,811Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA	60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA
Kids under 18	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Reading and Eastham 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	$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA	$732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA
	Reading and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA	$1,747±$101Lowest about the MA average
	Reading and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,320Highest 56% above MA	$4,973Lowest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Eastham 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%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	19 minLowest 36% below MA
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	20.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Reading and Eastham 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	#50 of 282 in MA	#17 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Eastham · Nauset
High school in town	—	Nauset Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
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.