Compare towns
Reading vs Wilbraham vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | Wilbraham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
14,572Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham 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 |
$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,658Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
4.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Hampden-Wilbraham | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Minnechaug Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.2Highest |
— |
| 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.