What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k 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	Boxford
People
Population	26,388Highest	8,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average	49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	23.7%±5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Walpole and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Boxford and Walpole 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%	70.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA	$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA
	Boxford 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	$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA	$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA
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%	67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Boxford 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%	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Walpole and Boxford 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	#34 of 282 in MA
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Boxford · Masconomet
High school in town	Walpole High	Masconomet Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.2Highest
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.