Compare towns
Reading vs Reading vs Thomaston vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% 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 | Thomaston | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
25,612 |
7,492Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Wakefield 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. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$5,915Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Thomaston School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Thomaston High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.