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Compare towns

Reading vs Thomaston vs Reading vs Woburn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

ReadingReading, MAMiddlesex County · 25,612 people
ThomastonThomaston, CTNaugatuck Valley Planning Region · 7,492 people
ReadingReading, MAMassachusetts · 25,612 people
Woburn, MAMassachusetts · 41,939 people

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).

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.

MeasureReadingThomastonReadingWoburn
People
Population
25,612
7,492Lowest
25,612
41,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
 —
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
41.5±7.7
7% above U.S.
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
39.3±1.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Thomaston and Woburn 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
106% above U.S.
$103,218±$15kLowest
28% above U.S.
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
$111,185±$9k
38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
$282,600±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
$673,500±$17k
102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,991±$273
41% above U.S.
$1,037±$147Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,991±$273
41% above U.S.
$2,221±$77Highest
57% above U.S.
Woburn and Reading 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.
$5,915
90% above U.S.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
$5,354Lowest
72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.9%±22Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.5%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Thomaston and Woburn 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%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
Work from home
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #50 of 282 in MA #106 of 149 in CT #50 of 282 in MA #169 of 282 in MA
School district Reading Thomaston School District — Woburn
High school in town Reading Memorial High Thomaston High School — Woburn High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
10.7Lowest
 —
11.2
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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.