North Reading vs Tewksbury
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $250k more for a 4BR in North Reading, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $250k for one tier of schooling.
North Reading is about 8 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Tewksbury works out roughly $4,000 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose North Reading if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All North Reading numbers →Choose Tewksbury if you want the lower price.
All Tewksbury numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsNorth Reading ahead on 5 of 9
| North Reading | Tewksbury | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 94th | 51st |
| Student growth | 56th | 52nd |
| Graduation rate | 97.6% | 93.4% |
| SchoolDigger rank | 30th of 361 | 123rd of 361 |
| State accountability | Meeting or exceeding targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $21,737 | $23,195 |
| Schools in the district | 4 | 5 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 16 | 12 |
What a home costsTewksbury ahead on 5 of 6
| North Reading | Tewksbury | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $950kT3 | $700kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $730k | $545k |
| 2BR condo | $540k | $405k |
| 3BR rent | $3,613/mo | $3,900/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $259k | $191k |
| 10-year price growth | 5% a year | 6.1% a year |
What you pay the townTewksbury ahead on 2 of 4
| North Reading | Tewksbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $13.50T3 | $12.56T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$12,800 | ≈$8,800 |
| Town spending per resident | $5,407 | $4,970 |
| Share of budget on schools | 48% | 45% |
Getting to workNorth Reading ahead on 2 of 3
| North Reading | Tewksbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 44 minT2 | 52 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 15 mi | 20 mi |
Before kindergartenTewksbury ahead on 3 of 4
| North Reading | Tewksbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 17 | 38 |
| Child care places | 848 | 1,322 |
| Centers vs family programs | 9 centers | 13 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 137 | 265 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| North Reading | Tewksbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,554 | 31,342 |
| Energy | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Compact center | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Culture | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Gathering places | 7/10 | 7/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
