Compare towns
Winchester vs Walpole vs Sudbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
Sudbury has the most homeowners (89.9%).
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 | Winchester | Walpole | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,406 |
26,388Highest |
19,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1.9Highest 6% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.3±2.1 6% above MA |
| Winchester and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sudbury and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6Lowest 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 | $230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
$236,250±$17kHighest 127% above MA |
| Sudbury and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$988,900±$42k 76% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$1,445±$895Lowest 18% below MA |
| Winchester and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 | 39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sudbury and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Winchester and Sudbury 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 | #11 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchester | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Winchester High School | Walpole High | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.3Lowest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.