Compare towns
Walpole vs Wakefield vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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.
| Measure | Walpole | Wakefield | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Lowest |
27,793 |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Wakefield and Norwood 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% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
55.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 65% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$107,030±$11kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$651,700±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
| Wakefield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,116±$83 20% above MA |
| 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 42% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$6,111Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwood and Wakefield 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — | Norwood |
| High school in town | Walpole High | — | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.