Compare towns
Reading vs Thomaston vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Thomaston | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612 |
7,492Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Reading and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston 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. |
$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% 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. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% 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. |
$5,915Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 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. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thomaston School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | — | Thomaston High School | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.