Compare towns
Reading vs Quinebaug 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
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k 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 | Quinebaug | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
1,193Lowest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
45±3 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$105,181±$36kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19k 90% above U.S. |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
— | $1,919±$269Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$7,983 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northborough and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Quinebaug 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 | — | #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 |
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.