What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Amherst
People
Population	25,612Highest	11,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
	Amherst 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%	22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Reading and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading and Amherst 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%	65.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amherst and 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 106% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kLowest 90% above U.S.
	Reading and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S.	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Reading and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,320Lowest 199% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amherst and Reading 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%	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amherst 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	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Reading	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Reading Memorial High	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.