Compare towns
Reading vs Plainfield vs Walpole vs North Reading
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
616Lowest |
26,388Highest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Reading 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% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 60% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| North Reading and Walpole 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest 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 | — | #107 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | North Reading |
| High school in town | — | — | Walpole High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.