Compare towns
Reading vs Reading vs Acton vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Acton | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
25,612 |
24,155Lowest |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Acton 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Woburn and Acton 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$673,500±$17kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 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 | $9,320 56% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Woburn and Acton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Acton-Boxborough | Woburn |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
13.5Highest |
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.