Compare towns
Walpole vs Boxford vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Boxford has the highest household income ($201k).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Walpole | Boxford | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
8,208Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Boxford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.7%±5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Boxford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
| Boxford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% 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 | $8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Boxford · Masconomet | Reading |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Masconomet Regional High School | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.2Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.