Compare towns
Walpole vs Ware vs Reading vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | Ware | Reading | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
10,048Lowest |
25,612 |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Reading and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Ware 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 65% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Norfolk 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 22% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
| Walpole and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523 42% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Reading 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Ware | Reading | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.