Compare towns
Weston vs Reading vs Cohasset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k median).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Cohasset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Weston | Reading | Cohasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,579 |
25,612Highest |
8,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.1Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
43.9±4.4 10% above MA |
| Weston and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Cohasset and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$199,306±$53k 92% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,318,900±$165k 135% above MA |
| Weston and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,085±$809 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA |
| Cohasset and Weston 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 |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±15.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Weston and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Weston 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 | #9 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #41 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Weston | — | Cohasset |
| High school in town | Weston High | — | Cohasset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.