Compare towns
North Reading vs Walpole vs Lynnfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the oldest population (median age 43).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
Lynnfield has the most expensive homes ($918k median).
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 | Walpole | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765 |
26,388Highest |
13,064Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.1 4% above MA |
| North Reading and Lynnfield 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%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynnfield and Walpole 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lynnfield and Walpole 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% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest 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±$16k 65% above MA |
$175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA |
| Lynnfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
| Lynnfield and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693 62% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.2%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Lynnfield 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% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Lynnfield 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 | #27 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 14 photos → |
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.