Compare towns
Walpole vs Epping vs Norwood
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 highest household income ($172k).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Norwood has the most renters (46% rent).
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 | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
7,430Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Walpole 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Norwood 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% 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% |
5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83 50% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523Highest 173% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,111Lowest 96% 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% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole and Epping 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 | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Epping School District | Norwood |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Epping High School | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
9.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.