Compare towns
Reading vs Ayer vs Wakefield vs Walpole
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).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Wakefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Ayer | Wakefield | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
8,645Lowest |
27,793Highest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
| Reading and Wakefield 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% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest 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%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Wakefield 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% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% 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 |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% 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 |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Ayer Shirley School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.5 |
10.7Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.