Compare towns
Putnam vs Reading vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Reading | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.