What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Reading	Bolton
People
Population	25,612Highest	5,737Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA
	Reading and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Bolton 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%	15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Reading and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Bolton 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 60% above MA	$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA
	Bolton 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 44% above MA	$796,000±$49kLowest 42% above MA
	Reading and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA	$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA
	Reading and Bolton 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8%	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Reading and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Bolton 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	#28 of 282 in MA
School district	Reading	Nashoba
High school in town	Reading Memorial High	Nashoba Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.