Compare towns
Reading vs Plainfield vs Reading vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
1,314Lowest |
25,612Highest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45±3 16% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19k 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,919±$269 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$7,983 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | — | #50 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | — | — | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | — | — | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | — | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.