Compare towns
Reading vs Williston vs Walpole vs Wakefield
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Williston | Walpole | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
10,144Lowest |
26,388 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Lowest 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 106% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Wakefield 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #107 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town | 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 |
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.