Compare towns
Reading vs Burlington vs Reading vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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.
| Measure | Reading | Burlington | Reading | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Lowest |
26,274 |
25,612Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Burlington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Burlington and Wakefield 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 60% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Burlington | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Burlington High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.3 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.