What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

North Reading has the oldest population (median age 43).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Walpole	North Reading
People
Population	26,388Highest	15,765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA
	North Reading and Walpole 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%	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Walpole and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Walpole and North 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%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole and North Reading 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	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA
	Walpole and North Reading 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	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
	North Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
	North Reading 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	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3.6%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Walpole and North 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	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	North Reading
High school in town	Walpole High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.