Compare towns
Walpole vs Stratham vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | Stratham | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
7,754Lowest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Stratham 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 112% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kLowest 88% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Norfolk 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 107% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kLowest 97% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34kHighest 118% above U.S. |
| Norfolk 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 56% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$2,019±$598Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523Lowest 173% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$9,651 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Walpole High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.