What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k 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	Winchester
People
Population	26,388Highest	23,406Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average	42.5±1.9Highest 6% above MA
	Winchester and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Winchester 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%	18%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Winchester 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%	79.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole and Winchester 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	$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA	$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA	$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA
	Winchester 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%	39.3%±13.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Winchester 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%	4.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	31 minLowest 8% above MA
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Winchester and Walpole 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 282 in MA
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Winchester
High school in town	Walpole High	Winchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.