Compare towns
Reading vs Ayer vs Milton 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 most people working from home (30.2%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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 | Ayer | Milton | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
8,645Lowest |
28,587Highest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
| Reading and North 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% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and North Reading 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% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
| Milton 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±$22k 44% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,474±$281 16% below 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 | $9,320 56% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Milton 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Ayer Shirley School District | Milton | North Reading |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Milton High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.5 |
12.4Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.