Compare towns
Walpole vs Suffield vs Sharon 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 the most renters (16.5% rent).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Sharon has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Sharon | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
15,702 |
18,574 |
11,673Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.5±1 9% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Suffield and Sharon 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 112% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$191,835±$19k 138% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Sharon 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. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$737,100±$33kHighest 122% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34k 118% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Norfolk 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. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,310±$345Highest 63% above U.S. |
$2,019±$598 43% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523 173% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,651 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norfolk and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Sharon 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #23 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Suffield School District | Sharon | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Suffield High School | Sharon High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.