Compare towns
Woburn vs Dedham vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Woburn | Dedham | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,939Highest |
25,237Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| Woburn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #169 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Woburn | — | Reading |
| High school in town | Woburn High | — | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.