Compare towns
Norfolk vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673 |
9,100Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Norfolk and Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest 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% |
17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Townsend and Walpole 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
| Norfolk and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below 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 | $9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | North Middlesex | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.