Compare towns
Halifax vs Reading vs Walpole vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Halifax | Reading | Walpole | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
18,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% 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 | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$6,585Lowest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Walpole 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.