Compare towns
Reading vs Andover vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Andover has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k 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 | Reading | Andover | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Lowest |
36,652Highest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Andover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
| Walpole and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Andover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Andover 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | — | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.