What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k 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	Enfield
People
Population	25,612Lowest	41,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	40.7±1.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Reading and Enfield 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%	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading and Enfield 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%	31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Enfield 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±$13kHighest 106% above U.S.	$90,404±$5kLowest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S.	$252,900±$7kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S.	$1,574±$83Lowest 11% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,320Highest 199% above U.S.	$5,360Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#50 of 282 in MA	#123 of 149 in CT
School district	Reading	Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District
High school in town	Reading Memorial High	Enfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.