Compare towns
Reading vs Walpole vs Upton vs Wakefield
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).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Walpole | Upton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
26,388 |
8,189Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Upton 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Wakefield 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 |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% 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 |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| 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 56% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | — | Walpole High | Blackstone Valley | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.