Compare towns
Reading vs Norfolk vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Norfolk | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
11,673Lowest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
45±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Northborough and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Northborough 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% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$153,199±$19kLowest 47% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
$620,000±$24kLowest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
$1,919±$269Lowest 9% above MA |
| Norfolk 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 |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$7,983Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Reading 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | King Philip · Millis | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| 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.