Compare towns
Reading vs Putnam vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Putnam | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
7,120Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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 106% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Reading |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.