Compare towns
Milton vs North 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
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
North Reading has the oldest population (median age 43).
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 | Milton | North Reading | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
15,765Lowest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| North Reading and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Walpole and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
| North Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677 61% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | — | North Reading High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.