Compare towns
Walpole vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
9,337Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Reading 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Thompson 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523 173% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Walpole 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Thompson School District | Reading |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
7.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.