What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).

Westwood has the most expensive homes ($1042k 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	Westwood
People
Population	26,388Highest	16,318Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average	43.9±1.6Highest 10% above MA
Kids under 18	25.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Westwood 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 MA: 17.9%	19.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Westwood 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	72.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole and Westwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA	$223,125±$33kHighest 115% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA	$1,041,500±$42kHighest 85% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA	$2,553±$323Highest 45% above MA
	Westwood and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,523Lowest 42% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8%
	Westwood 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%	4.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	30 minLowest 4% above MA
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	25.1%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Walpole and Westwood 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	#16 of 282 in MA
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Westwood
High school in town	Walpole High	Westwood High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.