Compare towns
Woburn vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
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 | Sutton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,939Highest |
9,452Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Sutton 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Woburn and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Woburn and Reading 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Woburn and Sutton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Sutton 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 | #169 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Woburn | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Woburn High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.