Compare towns
Reading vs Wakefield vs Windham vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Wakefield | Windham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
27,793Highest |
16,038Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wakefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
| Windham and Reading 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. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 199% above U.S. |
$7,779Lowest 149% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Wakefield 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% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.