Compare towns
Reading vs Westford vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Westford | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
24,690Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.8±1.2Lowest 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westford 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% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
73.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$187,198±$10kHighest 80% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
| Westford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$748,500±$32kLowest 33% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| Westford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$9,695Highest 62% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #20 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford | Reading |
| High school in town | — | Westford Academy | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.