Compare towns
Wakefield vs Reading vs North Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($724k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
North Andover has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Wakefield | Reading | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793 |
25,612Lowest |
31,490Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.6±2Lowest about the MA average |
| Reading and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$140,670±$9k 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$732,900±$37k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| North Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 30% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,767Lowest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | North Andover |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.