Compare towns
Wellesley vs Walpole vs Wellesley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Wellesley | Walpole | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
26,388Lowest |
30,347Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
40.9±1.2Highest about the MA average |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Walpole and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Wellesley |
| High school in town | — | Walpole High | Wellesley Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.