Compare towns
Woburn vs Upton vs Reading vs Beverly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Upton | Reading | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 41,939 |
8,189Lowest |
25,612 |
42,665Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.6 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Reading 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
| Reading and Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
| 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Woburn | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Beverly |
| High school in town | Woburn High | Blackstone Valley | — | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.2Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.