Compare towns
Foxborough vs Exeter vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foxborough has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Foxborough | Exeter | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,615 |
16,151Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 9% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,833±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $606,300±$28k 82% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$70Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,275Lowest 133% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foxborough | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Foxborough High | Exeter High School | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.