Compare towns
Wilmington vs Walpole vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmington has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k 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 | Wilmington | Walpole | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,336 |
26,388Highest |
15,765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.2 6% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
| North Reading and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Walpole and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,152±$19k 62% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Walpole and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,500±$19kLowest 21% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
| North Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,394±$328Highest 36% above MA |
$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
| Wilmington and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,704Lowest 29% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±2 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and North Reading 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 | #73 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wilmington | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | North Reading |
| High school in town | Wilmington High | Walpole High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
11.3Highest |
10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.