Compare towns
Norfolk vs Woonsocket 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
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673Lowest |
43,521Highest |
26,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3Highest 7% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
| 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 118% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
| 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 43% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
| 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 209% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norfolk and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.