Compare towns
Walpole vs Suffield vs Reading vs Norwood
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).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Norwood has the most renters (46% rent).
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 | Suffield | Reading | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388 |
15,702Lowest |
25,612 |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Reading 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Suffield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Norwood 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. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11kLowest 33% 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. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83 50% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Norwood 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. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,111Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwood and Suffield 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Suffield School District | Reading | Norwood |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Suffield High School | Reading Memorial High | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.