Compare towns

Walpole vs Woonsocket vs Milton

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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.

MeasureWalpoleWoonsocketMilton
People
Population
26,388Lowest
43,521Highest
28,587
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±1.2
5% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
41.1±1.8Highest
6% above U.S.
Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.1%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.3%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Walpole and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
71.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$171,500±$16k
112% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$188,529±$15kHighest
134% above U.S.
Milton 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
107% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$933,200±$31kHighest
180% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,205±$222Highest
56% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,474±$281
4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,523
173% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$9,677Highest
210% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Milton 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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
28.2%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Milton 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 #37 of 38 in RI #55 of 282 in MA
School district Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Milton
High school in town Walpole High Woonsocket High School Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
15.2Highest
12.4
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.