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Living in
Reading.
Reading is an unincorporated community in Middlesex County, MA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Reading
Living in Reading means joining a prosperous suburban community that skews toward established families and professionals with solid incomes—the median household income tops $163,000, and home values reflect that affluence at around $809,000. The town has real depth as a place to live beyond its proximity to Boston; you're looking at a 30-minute average commute, which is manageable but not trivial, especially if you're heading downtown regularly. The school system is a genuine draw if you have kids, with strong public schools plus the option of Austin Prep if you want independent schooling.
Reading at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Foreign-Born
9.5%
Broadband Internet
95.3%
of households
Population Growth
+1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.5% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Reading: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Reading, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (26.5%), and 4.1% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
20.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.0%
of households
Married Couples
60.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.60
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 13% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Reading
In Reading, rent runs 13% above the MA average, and home values are 44% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
27.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
10.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,320
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
82.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $909,955 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Reading
Unemployment in Middlesex County, which includes Reading, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
Reading: Middlesex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Middlesex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Reading is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Reading Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.9 min avg
How Reading residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Reading, most residents drive alone to work (57%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 91% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Reading runs 91% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
30.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
532.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Reading Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Reading, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,400 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,700 |
| 2023 | 29 | Flood | $99,100 |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Strong Wind | $583,500 |
| 2020 | 52 | Strong Wind | $552,300 |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $263,750 |
| 2018 | 40 | Flood | $526,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Reading is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Reading, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
65
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Reading is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Reading has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.0"
Annual Snowfall
63.5"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 19°F | 3.86" |
| Feb | 40°F | 20°F | 3.62" |
| Mar | 48°F | 27°F | 4.89" |
| Apr | 60°F | 37°F | 4.34" |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 3.81" |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 4.21" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.01" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.54" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.93" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 4.76" |
| Nov | 53°F | 32°F | 4.01" |
| Dec | 43°F | 24°F | 5.02" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Reading
Uninsured
1.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Reading's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Winchester Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Winchester
Melrosewakefield Healthcare
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Melrose
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Burlington
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Reading
Reading's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 66.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
66.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Reading (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
14.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,434 students · in-state tuition $17,664 · 68% graduate · median earnings $77,989 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Reading
Reading has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awaySalem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
14 mi awayPublic Libraries in Reading
Reading Public Library
64 Middlesex Ave., Reading
Cities Near Reading
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Reading?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Reading FAQ
Is Reading, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Reading's median rent is $1,991/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $165,912/year. Median home value is $809,000.
Is Reading, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Reading's violent crime rate was 31 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 533 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Reading, Massachusetts?⌄
Middlesex County, which includes Reading, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Reading, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Reading is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,991/month and median household income is $165,912/year. The median home value is $809,000. About 28% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Reading, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Reading is 31 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from