Compare towns
Walpole vs Pepperell 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
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 | Pepperell | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
11,663Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Reading and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Reading 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% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Pepperell 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% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Walpole and Reading 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 |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Walpole 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | North Middlesex | Reading |
| High school in town | Walpole High | None in town | 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.