Compare towns
Wilmington vs Acton vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmington has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Wilmington | Acton | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,336 |
24,155Highest |
15,765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
| Acton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton 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 | $168,152±$19kHighest 62% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Wilmington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,500±$19kLowest 21% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,394±$328Highest 36% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
| Wilmington and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,704Lowest 29% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,693 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±2 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #73 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wilmington | Acton-Boxborough | North Reading |
| High school in town | Wilmington High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
10.1 |
| 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.