Compare towns
Reading vs Norwell vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Norwell | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
11,361Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell 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% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Norwell 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 |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
| Norwell and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| Norwell 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Norwell | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Norwell High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.