Compare towns
Reading vs Needham vs North Reading 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
North Reading has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Walpole has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Needham | North Reading | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
32,459Highest |
15,765Lowest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Reading and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Walpole 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
| Needham and North Reading 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 |
$9,693 62% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | North Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | — | — | North Reading High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.