Compare towns
Reading vs Salem vs Reading vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Salem | Reading | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Lowest |
44,795Highest |
25,612Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Salem | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Salem High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
| 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.