Compare towns
Reading vs Townsend vs Upton vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Townsend | Upton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
9,100 |
8,189Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Upton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and 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 |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.