Compare towns
Reading vs Jericho vs North Reading vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Jericho has the most affordable homes ($493k median).
North Reading has the youngest population (median age 43).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Jericho | North Reading | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
5,114Lowest |
15,765 |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45±3 16% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Northborough 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% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Jericho 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% |
65.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northborough 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±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$116,923±$16kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25k 83% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19k 90% above U.S. |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$493,100±$38kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,731±$111Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,919±$269 36% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 199% above U.S. |
$7,318Lowest 135% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$7,983 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and North 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | #33 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | North Reading | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | North Reading High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.0Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.