Compare towns
Reading vs Bristol vs Reading vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($278k median).
North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Bristol | Reading | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
61,462Highest |
25,612 |
15,765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and North 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. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25k 83% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 199% above U.S. |
$5,449Lowest 75% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #115 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Bristol School District | — | North Reading |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Bristol Central High School | — | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
14.0Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.