Welcome to Reading

Reading is a safe community that harbors a small-town feel with welcoming neighborhoods where people know and care for each other.

Reading is located close to the junction of Interstate 93 and Interstate 95/Massachusetts Route 128 to the north of Boston. I-93 provides a direct route south to central Boston and beyond via the Big Dig, whilst I-95/128 loops around Boston to the west, crosses Interstate 90/Massachusetts Turnpike, and then continues south before meeting up with I-93 again at Canton.

Reading is served by Reading station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Haverhill/Reading commuter rail line, which links the town to Boston’s North Station. Reading is also served by MBTA bus service routes 136 and 137, which run between Reading station and Malden station.

A PLACE TO LEARN

Reading was an early and active participant in Boston’s METCO program, which brought African American and inner-city students from Boston to attend grades K-12.

Austin Preparatory School, is a co-ed, independent school, in the Augustinian Catholic tradition, founded in 1962. It is located on 55 acres of land and has an enrollment of 700 students, providing instruction for students in grades 6–12.

A PLACE TO GROW

When it comes to Reading real estate, condominiums and single-family homes dominate.

A PLACE TO CONNECT

There are numerous historical landmarks that help define the city’s Colonial origin. The Parker Tavern is the town’s oldest remaining 17th-century structure, built in 1694. This property, on Washington Street, is currently owned and operated by the non-profit Reading Antiquarian Society.

A PLACE TO EXPLORE

When you are in Reading, you can’t miss Jordan’s BeanStalk™ Adventure Ropes Course. Make your way across this one-of-a-kind sky ropes course and head up 12 or 24 feet onto zig zag beams, crisscross angled rope ladders, and spaghetti hand lines. Walk the plank at 24 feet then travel out on a 6-inch standalone beam, pivot and return. Enjoy two levels of challenging ropes course, 30 exciting activities and for young adventurers, there’s BeanSprout™, a specially designed course for children 2-7. Adventurers must be at least 48″ tall or 42″ if accompanied by a chaperone. Groups of 10 or more paying on the same transaction receive a 10% discount.