Compare towns
North Reading vs Suffield vs Walpole vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
Holden has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | North Reading | Suffield | Walpole | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,765 |
15,702Lowest |
26,388Highest |
20,064 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Suffield and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holden and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Holden and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,768±$25k 83% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$141,923±$11k 76% above U.S. |
| Walpole and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$470,700±$13k 41% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$1,648±$214 17% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$6,359Lowest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #107 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Suffield School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Wachusett |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Suffield High School | Walpole High | Wachusett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
10.9 |
11.3 |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.