Compare towns
Reading vs Hingham vs Woodstock
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 affordable homes ($377k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Woodstock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Hingham | Woodstock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
24,283Highest |
3,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Lowest 24% above U.S. |
56±3.6Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.7%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woodstock and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$120,938±$29k 50% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$582,000±$84k 75% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,430±$346 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,449 203% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.8%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hingham and Woodstock 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 | — | #14 of 282 in MA | #10 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hingham | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Woodstock Union Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.