Compare towns
Walpole vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Hardwick | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
2,684Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% 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 | $687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% 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 | $8,523 42% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 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% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Quabbin | Reading |
| High school in town | Walpole High | None in town | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.