Compare towns
Reading vs Hardwick vs Reading vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Woburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Hardwick | Reading | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
2,684Lowest |
25,612 |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Woburn 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Woburn and Reading 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,354 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Woburn 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Reading | Woburn |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.