Compare towns
Pelham vs Reading vs Walpole vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Pelham | Reading | Walpole | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below 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 | $447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472 25% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Pelham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 21% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and 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 | — | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Hatfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3 |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.