Compare towns
Walpole vs Sharon vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the highest household income ($192k).
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 | Sharon | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
18,574Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
42.5±1Highest 6% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$107,030±$11kLowest about the MA average |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA |
$651,700±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
$2,116±$83Lowest 20% above MA |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,111Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwood and Sharon 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sharon and Walpole 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 | #23 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Sharon | Norwood |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Sharon High | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.