Compare towns
Reading vs Hingham vs Westford vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Hingham | Westford | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
24,283Lowest |
24,690 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.8±1.2 7% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Hingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westford and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
73.9% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Westford and Wakefield 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 |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$187,198±$10kHighest 80% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
| Westford and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$748,500±$32k 33% above MA |
$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,436±$422 38% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,695 62% above MA |
$7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±8 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Westford 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
27%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #20 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Hingham | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Hingham High | Westford Academy | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.9 |
14.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.