What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).

Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k 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	Calais
People
Population	25,612Highest	1,713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Reading and Calais 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%	22.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Calais 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 U.S.: 35.7%	55.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S.	$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S.	$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S.	$1,408±$392Lowest about the U.S. average
	Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,320Highest 199% above U.S.	$6,586Lowest 111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Calais and Reading 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%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading and Calais 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	—
School district	Reading	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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.