Compare towns
Reading vs Suffield vs North Reading 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).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k 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 | Suffield | North Reading | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
15,702Lowest |
15,765 |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Suffield 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25k 83% 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. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320 199% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #33 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Suffield School District | North Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Suffield High School | North Reading High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.9 |
10.1Lowest |
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.