Compare towns
Walpole vs Needham 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 most affordable homes ($687k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
32,459Highest |
25,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%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 |
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% |
22.8%±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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Needham 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% |
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% |
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 |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
| Needham and Walpole 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% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — | Reading |
| High school in town | Walpole High | — | 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.