Compare towns
Walpole vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
44,795Highest |
25,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Salem 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below 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 |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Salem | Reading |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Salem High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
9.8Lowest |
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.