Compare towns
Wellfleet vs North Reading vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
North Reading has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
Newbury has the shortest commute (24 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 | Wellfleet | North Reading | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,404Lowest |
15,765Highest |
6,777 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1Highest 46% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
55.1±4.8 38% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| North Reading and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.5%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Wellfleet and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Newbury and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,938±$27kLowest 13% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$174,868±$59kHighest 68% above MA |
| Newbury and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
$840,600±$40k 50% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,806±$1k about the MA average |
| North Reading and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$6,661 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.5%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading and Newbury 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 | — | #33 of 282 in MA | #137 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellfleet | North Reading | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | Triton Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.