Compare towns
Reading vs Chilmark vs Wakefield vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Chilmark | Wakefield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
1,578Lowest |
27,793Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Chilmark 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% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Wakefield 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±$13k 60% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
| Chilmark 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±$22k 44% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Chilmark and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wakefield and Chilmark 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% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Up-Island Regional | — | — |
| 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 | 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.