Compare towns
Reading vs Windham vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Northborough has the most affordable homes ($620k 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 | Windham | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
16,038 |
15,750Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Northborough 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8Lowest 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Northborough 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northborough 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19kLowest 90% 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. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24kLowest 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,919±$269Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 199% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,983Lowest 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Northborough 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Northborough 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Windham School District | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Windham High School | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.