Compare towns
Reading vs Suffield 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).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Northborough has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Walpole | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
15,702Lowest |
26,388Highest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Suffield 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% |
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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3 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% |
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% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% 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. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% 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. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$7,983 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield 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% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% 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. |
26 minLowest 3% 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% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #107 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Suffield School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Suffield High School | Walpole High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.9 |
11.3 |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.