Compare towns
Walpole vs Plainfield vs Norwood
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 highest household income ($172k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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 | Plainfield | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
616Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Plainfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$107,030±$11k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$651,700±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,116±$83 20% above MA |
| 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 42% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,111 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwood and Plainfield 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Plainfield 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 | — | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — | Norwood |
| High school in town | Walpole High | — | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| 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.