Compare towns
Reading vs Reading vs Wareham vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k 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 | Wareham | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
23,302 |
15,750Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%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% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Northborough 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 |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$620,000±$24k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,919±$269 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$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% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Wareham | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Wareham Senior High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
8.6Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.