Compare towns
Norfolk vs North Reading vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
North Reading has the oldest population (median age 43).
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 | North Reading | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673Lowest |
15,765 |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| North Reading and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Highest 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+ | 61.6% MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest 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 | $200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Norfolk and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Norfolk and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
| North Reading and Walpole 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 |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
3.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | North Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.