What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).

Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Reading	Wellesley
People
Population	25,612Lowest	30,347Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA
Kids under 18	22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wellesley 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%	15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	89%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA	$250,001Highest 140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA	$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA	$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,320Lowest 56% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wellesley and Reading 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%	4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wellesley and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#50 of 282 in MA	#6 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

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.