Compare towns
Walpole vs Windsor Locks 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Canton has the most renters (26.4% 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 | Windsor Locks | Canton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
12,579Lowest |
24,748 |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% 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. |
41.4±2.6 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Canton 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Canton 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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 112% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$143,381±$9k 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below 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. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
| Canton and Walpole 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% 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. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #81 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Windsor Locks School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Reading |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Windsor Locks High School | Canton High | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
8.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.