Compare towns
Reading vs Springfield vs Reading vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield | Reading | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
154,749Highest |
25,612 |
15,750Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
65.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$620,000±$24k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,919±$269 9% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Springfield | Reading | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | Reading Memorial High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
12.1 |
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.