Compare towns
Reading vs Natick vs West Fairlee
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 oldest population (median age 51.1).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Natick | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
36,873Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Reading and West Fairlee 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% |
21.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Natick 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% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Natick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$5,210Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Natick 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 | — | #48 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Natick | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Natick High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.