Compare towns
Reading vs Wolcott vs Milton 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 people working from home (30.2%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Walpole has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Wolcott | Milton | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612 |
16,279Lowest |
28,587Highest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Wolcott 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% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Walpole 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% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Wolcott 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
| Milton 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 143% above U.S. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$1,464±$913Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% 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 | $9,320 199% above U.S. |
$5,799Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±24.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wolcott and Milton 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Milton 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #55 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Wolcott School District | Milton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Wolcott High School | Milton High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.1Lowest |
12.4Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.