What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).

Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Walpole	Andover
People
Population	26,388Lowest	36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA
	Andover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Walpole and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Walpole and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	75.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA
	Andover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA
	Walpole and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,523Lowest 42% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	39.7%±7.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Andover and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Andover 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	#107 of 282 in MA	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Walpole High	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.