Compare towns
Reading vs Dalton vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.
| Measure | Reading | Dalton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
6,256Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton 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% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton 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 MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Central Berkshire | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Wahconah Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.