Compare towns
Walpole vs Needham vs Canton 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 the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Needham | Canton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388 |
32,459Highest |
24,748Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Reading and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Walpole 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Canton 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| Needham and Canton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Reading |
| High school in town | Walpole High | — | Canton High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.