Compare towns
Hanson vs Reading vs Walpole vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (100%).
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 | Hanson | Reading | Walpole | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
1,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
| Hanson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$119,211±$24kLowest 15% 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 | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$513,000±$55kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
— |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$6,429 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
— |
| Hanson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.