What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k 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	Sutton
People
Population	26,388Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average	44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA
	Sutton 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%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Walpole and Sutton 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%	18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sutton 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 MA: 47.3%	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole and Sutton 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	$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA
	Walpole and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA	$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,523Highest 42% above MA	$6,763Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sutton 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 MA: 10%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Walpole and Sutton 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	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Sutton
High school in town	Walpole High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.