Compare towns

Walpole vs Underhill vs Norwood

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 highest household income ($172k).
Underhill has the most affordable homes ($446k median).
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.

MeasureWalpoleUnderhillNorwood
People
Population
26,388
3,141Lowest
31,542Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±1.2Highest
5% above U.S.
38.1±11.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
39±1.8
about the U.S. average
Walpole and Norwood 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%
27.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Underhill 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
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Walpole and Norwood 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
112% above U.S.
$92,267±$54kLowest
14% above U.S.
$107,030±$11k
33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$687,100±$20kHighest
107% above U.S.
$446,000±$24kLowest
34% above U.S.
$651,700±$13k
96% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,205±$222Highest
56% above U.S.
—
$2,116±$83Lowest
50% above U.S.
Walpole and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,523Highest
173% above U.S.
$6,697
115% above U.S.
$6,111Lowest
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±18.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Norwood 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
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
54%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
33 min
24% above U.S.
30 minLowest
15% above U.S.
Work from home
28.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±11.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Walpole and Underhill 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 #2 of 70 in VT #176 of 282 in MA
School district Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Norwood
High school in town Walpole High None in town Norwood High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
—
11.5Highest
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.