Compare towns
Walpole vs Hingham vs Reading vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Hingham | Reading | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
24,283Lowest |
25,612 |
24,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.8±1.2 7% above MA |
| Hingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
73.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Westford 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±$16k 65% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$187,198±$10kHighest 80% above MA |
| Westford and Hingham 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 |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$748,500±$32k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,436±$422 38% above MA |
| Hingham and Westford 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 |
$9,695 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
27%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Reading 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #20 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Hingham | Reading | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Hingham High | Reading Memorial High | Westford Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.9 |
12.1 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.