Compare towns
Reading vs Griswold vs Wakefield vs Walpole
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).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Griswold | Wakefield | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
11,530Lowest |
27,793Highest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Griswold 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest 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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 106% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% 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. |
$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,177±$65Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% 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. |
$4,628Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Griswold School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Griswold 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 | None yet | 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.