Compare towns
Walpole vs Brooklyn vs Reading vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | Walpole | Brooklyn | Reading | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
8,517Lowest |
25,612 |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8 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+ | 16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Brooklyn 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% 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 | $687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34k 118% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$2,019±$598 43% 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 | $8,523 173% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$9,651Highest 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norfolk and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Reading 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Brooklyn School District | Reading | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Walpole High | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.