Compare towns
Reading vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 25,612 |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 56% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #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 |
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.