Compare towns
Reading vs Chilmark 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 people working from home (30.2%).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
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 | Chilmark | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612 |
1,578Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Chilmark 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% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
| Walpole and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
| Chilmark 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Walpole and Chilmark 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% |
4.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest 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 | — | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Up-Island Regional | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.