Compare towns
Reading vs Plainfield vs Reading 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
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Reading | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
616Lowest |
25,612Highest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
| Plainfield and Reading 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%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Reading 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% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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 60% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| 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 56% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | — | #50 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | — | — | North Reading |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | — | — | 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 | 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.