What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).

North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wellesley	North Reading
People
Population	30,347Highest	15,765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wellesley and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	North Reading and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	89%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 140% above MA	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA	$2,259±$356Lowest 28% above MA
	Wellesley and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,693Lowest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wellesley and North 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	#6 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Wellesley	North Reading
High school in town	Wellesley Sr High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.