Compare towns
Reading vs Dover vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k 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 | Dover | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
2,308Lowest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
| Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and North 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% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and North 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
— | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| North Reading and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,693 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
3.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | — | North Reading |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | — | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.