Compare towns
Middleton vs Reading vs Walpole vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
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 | Middleton | Reading | Walpole | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816 |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
8,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
| Reading and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 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+ | 18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$136,646±$19kLowest 31% above MA |
| Walpole and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$501,900±$47kLowest 11% below MA |
| Reading and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% 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 | $8,785 47% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$6,452Lowest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.