What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Reading	Walpole
People
Population	15,765Lowest	26,388Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average
	North Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Walpole and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2Lowest 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+	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	67.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA	$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA
	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 26% above MA	$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA
	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 28% above MA	$2,205±$222Lowest 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	$9,693Highest 62% above MA	$8,523Lowest 42% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	3.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	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	#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

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.