Compare towns
Walpole vs Goffstown vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
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 | Goffstown | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
18,513Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Reading and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 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+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% 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 | $687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% 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 | $8,523 173% above U.S. |
$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Goffstown School District | Reading |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Goffstown High School | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.