Compare towns
Walpole vs Woonsocket 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% 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 | Woonsocket | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
43,521Highest |
25,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Walpole 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Reading |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Woonsocket High School | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
15.2Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.