Compare towns
Walpole vs Epping vs Norfolk vs Sharon
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 renters (16.5% rent).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Norfolk has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Sharon has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Epping | Norfolk | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
7,430Lowest |
11,673 |
18,574 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
| Epping and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$191,835±$19k 138% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Sharon 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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34k 118% above U.S. |
$737,100±$33kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,019±$598 43% above U.S. |
$2,310±$345Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Walpole 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. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$9,651 209% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Sharon 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #123 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Epping School District | King Philip · Millis | Sharon |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Epping High School | None in town | Sharon High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.