Compare towns
Brookline vs Reading vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Brookline | Reading | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,266Highest |
25,612Lowest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
| Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8kLowest 37% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Brookline and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.