Compare towns
Norfolk vs Ware vs Upton 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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Ware | Upton | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,673 |
10,048 |
8,189Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$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 |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Ware | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Blackstone Valley | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.