What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).

Norfolk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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	Norfolk
People
Population	25,612Highest	11,673Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA
	Reading and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Norfolk and 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%	13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Norfolk 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	$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA	$725,200±$34kLowest 29% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA	$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA
	Norfolk and Reading 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	$9,651Highest 61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3.2%Highest MA: 10%	2.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Norfolk 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	#123 of 282 in MA
School district	Reading	King Philip · Millis
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

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.