Compare towns
Reading vs Bristol vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($278k median).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612 |
61,462Highest |
24,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±1.2 10% above U.S. |
| Reading and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
73.9%Highest 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% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$187,198±$10kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Westford 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. |
$277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$748,500±$32k 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$2,436±$422Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Westford 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. |
$9,695Highest 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Westford 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Bristol School District | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Bristol Central High School | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.0 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.