Compare towns
Reading vs Everett vs Walpole vs Northborough
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 most expensive homes ($809k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Northborough has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Everett | Walpole | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
50,045Highest |
26,388 |
15,750Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
45±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Northborough and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±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+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
65.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% 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 | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$620,000±$24k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,919±$269Lowest 9% above MA |
| Walpole and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Everett | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | Walpole High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.