Compare towns
Winchester vs Reading vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Winchester | Reading | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,406Lowest |
25,612 |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Reading and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Woburn and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$673,500±$17kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,221±$77 26% above MA |
| Winchester and Woburn 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Woburn and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchester and 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 | #11 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchester | Reading | Woburn |
| High school in town | Winchester High School | Reading Memorial High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.