Compare towns
Reading vs Stoneham vs Plymouth
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 homeowners (84.9%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Plymouth has the shortest commute (23 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 | Stoneham | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
23,355Highest |
533Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
52.2±9.6Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Plymouth 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham 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%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.6%±10.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plymouth 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% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Plymouth 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. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$87,614±$8k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$337,900±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,299±$171 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,585Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±53Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Stoneham 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.