Compare towns
Reading vs Washington vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
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 | Washington | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
526Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
— | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | — | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | — | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.