Compare towns
Reading vs Reading vs Townsend vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Reading | Townsend | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
9,100Lowest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$620,000±$24k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,919±$269 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Northborough 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | North Middlesex | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | North Middlesex Regional | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
13.1Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.