Compare towns
Norfolk vs Dover vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Norfolk | Dover | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673 |
2,308Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Walpole and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22k 93% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598Lowest 15% above MA |
— | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
| Walpole and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,651 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
3.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Norfolk 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.