What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Walpole	Plaistow
People
Population	26,388Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Highest 5% above U.S.	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Walpole and Plaistow 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%	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Walpole and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plaistow 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Walpole and Plaistow 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 112% above U.S.	$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S.	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S.	$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,523Highest 173% above U.S.	$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and Walpole 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%	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#107 of 282 in MA	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Walpole High	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.