Compare towns
Reading vs Lancaster vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
8,606Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lancaster 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 60% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| Lancaster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Reading 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% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest 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 | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.