What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Concord has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Concord
People
Population	25,612Highest	18,223Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA	47.6±2Highest 19% above MA
	Concord and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Concord and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Concord 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	79.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA	$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA
	Concord 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±$22kLowest 44% above MA	$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA	$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,320Lowest 56% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.2%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%	3.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Concord and Reading 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	#10 of 282 in MA
School district	Reading	Concord · Concord-Carlisle
High school in town	Reading Memorial High	Concord Carlisle High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.