What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).

Bethany has the most affordable homes ($418k 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.

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

Measure	Reading	Bethany
People
Population	25,612Highest	5,288Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	42.5±2.9Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Reading and Bethany 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%	20.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Reading and Bethany 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%	17.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading and Bethany 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%	58%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bethany 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±$13kLowest 106% above U.S.	$166,236±$20kHighest 106% above U.S.
	Bethany 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 143% above U.S.	$418,000±$42kLowest 26% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273 41% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,320Highest 199% above U.S.	$8,313Lowest 167% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#50 of 282 in MA	#30 of 149 in CT
School district	Reading	Bethany School District · Regional School District 05
High school in town	Reading Memorial High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1	—
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.