Compare towns
Walpole vs Pelham vs Reading vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Sharon has the highest household income ($192k).
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 | Pelham | Reading | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
14,449Lowest |
25,612 |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 112% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$191,835±$19kHighest 138% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$737,100±$33k 122% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,310±$345Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523Lowest 173% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sharon 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Pelham School District | Reading | Sharon |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Pelham High School | Reading Memorial High | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.