Compare towns
Walpole vs Hingham 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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Norfolk has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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 | Hingham | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
24,283 |
11,673Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Norfolk and Hingham 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 |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,019±$598Lowest 15% above MA |
| Hingham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Norfolk 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Hingham | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.