Compare towns
Reading vs Heath vs Walpole vs Wakefield
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).
Heath has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Heath | Walpole | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
765Lowest |
26,388 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Heath 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 60% above MA |
$98,750±$23kLowest 5% below MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% 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 |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
— | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% 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 |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wakefield and Heath 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% |
6.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — | #107 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | — | Walpole High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.