North Reading vs Wilmington
You are paying about $175k more for a 4BR in North Reading, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $175k for one tier of schooling.
On tax, look past the rate: Wilmington 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 Wilmington if you want the lower price, or you want a train.
All Wilmington numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| North Reading | Wilmington | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS percentile | 94th | 67th |
| Niche district rank | 27th of 236 | 90th of 236 |
| 4BR house | $950kT3 | $775kT2 |
| 2BR condo | $540k | $445k |
| Commute to Boston | 44 minT2 | 44 minT2 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~35 min to terminal |
| Tax rate | $13.50T3 | $11.41T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$12,800 | ≈$8,800 |
| 3BR rent | $3,613/mo | $3,827/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
