Compare towns
Reading vs Marblehead vs Acton 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
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 | Marblehead | Acton | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
20,413Lowest |
24,155 |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Acton 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Acton 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 |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Marblehead and Walpole 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 |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% 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 | $9,320 56% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead and Acton 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% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Marblehead | Acton-Boxborough | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Marblehead High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.