Compare towns
Reading vs Acton vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k median).
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 | Acton | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
24,155 |
15,765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
| Acton 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% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton 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% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and North Reading 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 |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Reading and Acton 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 |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| North Reading 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,693 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Acton-Boxborough | North Reading |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.5Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.