Compare towns
Walpole vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
10,144Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Walpole 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,111 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwood and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.