Compare towns
Reading vs Exeter vs Walpole vs Northborough
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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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 | Exeter | Walpole | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
16,151 |
26,388Highest |
15,750Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45±3 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Northborough 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Reading 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% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19k 90% 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,919±$269 36% 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$7,983Lowest 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #107 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Exeter High School | Walpole High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
12.1Highest |
11.3 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.