Compare towns
Northbridge vs Reading vs Walpole vs Raynham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
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 | Northbridge | Reading | Walpole | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
15,505Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$524,400±$29k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,749±$74 about the MA average |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$6,752 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.3 |
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| 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.