Compare towns
Reading vs Lancaster 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 most expensive homes ($809k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
North Reading has the youngest population (median age 43).
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 | Lancaster | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
8,606Lowest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
| Reading and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| North Reading and Lancaster 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 60% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
| Lancaster and North Reading 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Nashoba | North Reading |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | 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.