Compare towns
Reading vs Rowley vs Walpole vs Canton
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).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Rowley | Walpole | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
6,251Lowest |
26,388Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Canton 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% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley 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% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% 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 |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
| Canton and Walpole 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Triton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Walpole High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.