Compare towns
Reading vs Sutton vs Wilbraham 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 most expensive homes ($809k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Sutton | Wilbraham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
9,452Lowest |
14,572 |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Wilbraham 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham and Walpole 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below 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 | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,658Lowest 11% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Sutton | Hampden-Wilbraham | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Sutton High School | Minnechaug Regional High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.6 |
14.2Highest |
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.