Compare towns
Reading vs Reading vs Williston vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
25,612 |
10,144Lowest |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest 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% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Woburn 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$111,185±$9k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$673,500±$17k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,221±$77Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Woburn and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,354Lowest 72% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woburn and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Woburn |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | None in town | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.