Compare towns
Walpole vs Thomaston vs Milton
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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.
| Measure | Walpole | Thomaston | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
7,492Lowest |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8 6% above U.S. |
| Thomaston and Milton 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Milton 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. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523 173% above U.S. |
$5,915Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Milton 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Thomaston School District | Milton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Thomaston High School | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.7Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.