Greater Boston · Town guide
Living in Reading, MA.
A suburban town with a walkable downtown, a commuter rail station, and easy access to I-93 and I-95.
Reading at a glance
- Median single-family
- $985,000
- ▲ 7.7% vs. last year
- Median condo
- $607,500
- ▲ 2.1% vs. last year
- Days on market
- 23
- single-family, year to date
- Sale vs. original list
- 105.0%
- single-family, year to date
- Residential tax rate
- $10.96
- per $1,000, FY2026
- Population
- 26,041
- 2024 Census estimate, +2.1% since 2020
- To Boston
- 12 mi
- straight line to City Hall
- MBTA rail & ferry
- Commuter rail
Reading market · August 2026 year to date
The numbers, before the opinions.
| Measure | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $985,000 | $607,500 |
| Change vs. last year | ▲ 7.7% | ▲ 2.1% |
| Sales closed | 135 | 48 |
| Median days on market | 23 | 45 |
| Sale price vs. original list | 105.0% | 100.4% |
| For sale at month end | 15 | 13 |
| Months of supply | 0.9 | 2.2 |
Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Reading Local Market Update (PDF, opens in a new tab) (MLS PIN data). Year-to-date figures except homes for sale and months of supply, which are for the latest month. A town median is a starting point; the right price is street by street.
Side by side · August 2026 year to date
How does Reading compare with nearby towns?
| Town | Median single-family | Median condo | Days on market | Tax rate (FY2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | $985,000 ▲ 7.7% | $607,500 | 23 | $10.96 |
| Wakefield | $865,000 ▲ 0.9% | $649,500 | 31 | $11.74 |
| Lynnfield | $1,132,500 ▲ 6.8% | $663,750 | 28 | $11.46 |
| Stoneham | $860,000 ▼ 1.1% | $430,000 | 24 | $10.06 |
| Wilmington | $795,000 ▲ 3.9% | $643,750 | 28 | $11.41 |
| Melrose | $989,370 ▼ 1.1% | $550,000 | 23 | $11.47 |
Year-to-date medians from each town's MAR Local Market Update; tax rates per $1,000 from the Mass. Division of Local Services. Nearby = closest town centers among the towns I cover.
Town guide
What it's like to live in Reading.
What is it like to live in Reading?
Reading has a compact downtown with shops and restaurants near the train, surrounded by residential neighborhoods. I-93 and I-95 both pass through or along the town.
It's a steady, in-demand suburb, and homes near downtown and the station tend to move quickly.
What are Reading's neighborhoods like?
A quick orientation, not a ranking:
| Area | What it's like | Worth a look if you want |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | Shops, restaurants, and the commuter rail | Walkability and rail access |
| West Side | Residential neighborhoods toward I-93 | Highway access |
| East Side | Residential neighborhoods toward Lynnfield | Quieter streets |
| Near Birch Meadow | Neighborhoods near town fields and conservation land | Recreation space |
What does housing look like in Reading?
Reading is mostly single-family, with colonials, capes, and ranches, plus condos and townhouses, including newer buildings near downtown.
How is the commute from Reading to Boston?
Reading has a commuter rail station on the Haverhill Line. I-93 and I-95 are close by.
Where do people spend time in Reading?
- Downtown Reading
- Town Forest and conservation land
- Birch Meadow fields
What should buyers and sellers know about Reading?
- Homes near I-93 and I-95 can have highway noise.
- Walkable downtown locations carry a premium.
For public school information, see the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's school and district profiles (Reading Public Schools).
Questions people actually ask.
Does Reading have a train to Boston?
Yes. Reading has a commuter rail station on the Haverhill Line.
Is Reading a good place to buy?
For buyers who want a walkable downtown, rail access, and highway access, it's a strong option. Prices are shown above.
MBTA stations in Reading
- Commuter rail: Reading (Haverhill Line)
Monthly cost calculator
What would a Reading home cost per month?
Pre-filled with Reading's median single-family price and its FY2026 tax rate. Change anything. This is an estimate for planning, not a loan quote.
How I help in Reading
Three ways to start.
Buy in Reading
What homes here actually sell for, what they cost to own, and an offer strategy you can defend.
Buying with XavierSell in Reading
A price grounded in Reading sales, a plan for what to fix, and a clear read on every offer.
Get a home valuationInvest in Reading
Two- and three-families run as numbers: rents, expenses, financing, and condition.
Multifamily & investingQuick answers about Reading.
What is the median home price in Reading, MA?
The median single-family sale price in Reading was $985,000 for August 2026 year to date, compared with $915,000 for the same period a year earlier. The median condo sold for $607,500. Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MLS PIN data).
How fast are homes selling in Reading?
Single-family homes that sold in Reading during August 2026 year to date spent a median of about 23 days on market and sold for 105.0% of their original list price on average, according to MAR.
What is the property tax rate in Reading, MA?
Reading's FY2026 residential property tax rate is $10.96 per $1,000 of assessed value (Massachusetts Division of Local Services). On a home assessed at the median single-family sale price, that's roughly $10,800 a year; your actual bill depends on the assessed value.
Is there public transit from Reading to Boston?
Yes. MBTA service in Reading: commuter rail: Reading (Haverhill Line). Check the MBTA's current schedules for times.
MLS listings
Reading homes for sale right now.
Active and coming-soon listings in Reading, through my Ruuster home search. Save a search to hear about new ones as they come on.
Search provided by Ruuster via HomeBase. Open the full Reading search in a new tab (opens in a new tab). Listing information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Buying or selling here?
Interested in Reading?
Tell me what you're weighing: a street, a price range, a timeline. I'll send the recent sales that matter and what I'd watch for in Reading specifically.
More Greater Boston towns
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Sources: market figures, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Local Market Update (data: MLS PIN; © ShowingTime Plus); tax rate, Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Municipal Databank, Tax Rates by Class; population, U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates for cities and towns; stations, MBTA (V3 API); distance, OpenStreetMap Nominatim (town center); miles are straight-line to Boston City Hall. Numbers retrieved 2026-09-25.