Medfield vs Walpole
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $475k more for a 4BR in Medfield, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $475k for two tiers of schooling.
On tax, look past the rate: Walpole works out roughly $9,400 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Medfield if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Medfield numbers →Choose Walpole if you want the lower price, or you want a train.
All Walpole numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsMedfield ahead on 4 of 9
| Medfield | Walpole | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | top schoolsT1 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 96th | 84th |
| Student growth | 52nd | 48th |
| Graduation rate | 96.7% | 95.8% |
| Niche district rank | 23rd of 236 | 68th of 236 |
| State accountability | Meeting or exceeding targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $20,886 | $20,297 |
| Schools in the district | 4 | 6 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 25 | 18 |
What a home costsWalpole ahead on 5 of 6
| Medfield | Walpole | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $1.35MT3 | $875kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $950k | $675k |
| 2BR condo | $705k | $500k |
| 3BR rent | $3,527/mo | $3,220/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $372k | $236k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.4% a year | 5% a year |
What you pay the townWalpole ahead on 2 of 4
| Medfield | Walpole | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $15.00T4 | $12.45T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$20,300 | ≈$10,900 |
| Town spending per resident | $5,766 | $4,649 |
| Share of budget on schools | 60% | 48% |
Getting to workWalpole ahead on 1 of 3
| Medfield | Walpole | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 47 minT3 | 49 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~48 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 17 mi | 18 mi |
Before kindergartenWalpole ahead on 3 of 4
| Medfield | Walpole | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 11 | 28 |
| Child care places | 848 | 1,208 |
| Centers vs family programs | 10 centers | 11 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 130 | 386 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Medfield | Walpole | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,799 | 26,383 |
| Energy | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Compact center | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Family amenities | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Culture | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Gathering places | 6/10 | 7/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
