Compare towns
Walpole vs Windham vs Reading vs Norfolk
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 most affordable homes ($687k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Windham | Reading | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
16,038 |
25,612 |
11,673Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
| Reading and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Windham 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 112% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kLowest 106% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20kLowest 107% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34k 118% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$2,019±$598 43% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523Lowest 173% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$9,651 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norfolk and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Windham School District | Reading | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Windham High School | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.