Compare towns
Walpole vs Dedham vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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.
| Measure | Walpole | Dedham | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
25,237Lowest |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Walpole 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
| Milton 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 22% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Walpole and Dedham 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 |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Milton 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% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Milton 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — | Milton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | — | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.