Medfield vs Walpole
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
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Medfield | Walpole | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | top schoolsT1 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS percentile | 96th | 84th |
| Niche district rank | 23rd of 236 | 68th of 236 |
| 4BR house | $1.35MT3 | $875kT2 |
| 2BR condo | $705k | $500k |
| Commute to Boston | 47 minT3 | 49 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~48 min to terminal |
| Tax rate | $15.00T4 | $12.45T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$20,300 | ≈$10,900 |
| 3BR rent | $3,527/mo | $3,220/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
