Compare towns
Walpole vs Chilmark vs Canton vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Canton has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | Chilmark | Canton | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
1,578Lowest |
24,748 |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Canton 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 65% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| 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±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,019±$598Lowest 15% above MA |
| Chilmark and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523 42% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 8% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | — | #81 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Up-Island Regional | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Walpole High | None in town | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.