Compare towns
Hamilton vs Reading vs Walpole vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
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 | Hamilton | Reading | Walpole | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600Lowest |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Reading and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Groton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
| Reading and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.