What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).

Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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	Harvard
People
Population	25,612Highest	6,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA
	Harvard 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%	21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Reading and Harvard 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%	16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Reading and Harvard 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%	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Harvard 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±$13kLowest 60% above MA	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA
	Harvard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA
	Reading and Harvard 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard 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%	4.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#50 of 282 in MA	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	Reading	Harvard
High school in town	Reading Memorial High	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.