Compare towns
Wellesley vs North Reading vs Wellesley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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.
| Measure | Wellesley | North Reading | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
15,765Lowest |
30,347Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest 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% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$2,259±$356Lowest 28% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,693Lowest 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Lowest 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% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #6 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 | 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.