Compare towns
Walpole vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
32,459Highest |
11,673Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Needham and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Walpole 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$200,720±$22k 93% above MA |
| Needham and Norfolk 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,019±$598Lowest 15% above MA |
| Needham 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% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Needham | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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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.