Compare towns
Reading vs Plainfield vs Walpole vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Reading | Plainfield | Walpole | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
15,141Lowest |
26,388Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 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+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 106% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% 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 | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% 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 | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #107 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Reading |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Walpole High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.3 |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.