What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).

Boylston has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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	Boylston
People
Population	26,388Highest	4,948Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average	48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Boylston 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA	$140,962±$28kLowest 36% above MA
	Walpole and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA	$578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA	$2,032±$350Lowest 15% above MA
	Walpole and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,523Highest 42% above MA	$7,266Lowest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Boylston and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 13 yrs newer than MA	1977 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	27 minLowest 8% below MA
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Walpole and Boylston 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	#72 of 282 in MA
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Berlin-Boylston
High school in town	Walpole High	Tahanto Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.