Compare towns
Reading vs Windsor vs North Reading vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Windsor | North Reading | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
1,065Lowest |
15,765 |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| North Reading 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 |
$115,563±$10kLowest 11% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
— | $2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| North Reading and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 56% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | — | #33 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | — | North Reading | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | — | North Reading High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.