Compare towns
Walpole vs Stratham vs Canton vs Reading
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 most kids (25.1% under 18).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Stratham | Canton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
7,754Lowest |
24,748 |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Reading and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Canton 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 112% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kLowest 78% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
| 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 107% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kLowest 97% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523 173% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Canton 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Reading |
| High school in town | Walpole High | None in town | Canton High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.