Compare towns
Reading vs Acton 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Acton | Walpole | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
24,155Lowest |
26,388Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Acton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Acton 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% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Acton 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 |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 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 |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above 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 | $9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Acton 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% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.9% 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 |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Reading 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Acton-Boxborough | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Walpole High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.