Compare towns
Reading vs Ayer vs Reading vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($445k median).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Ayer | Reading | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
3,098Lowest |
25,612 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wakefield and Ayer 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 |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Wakefield 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% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | — | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | — | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | — | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.