Norfolk vs Walpole
The prices are within about $75k of each other, so schools break the tie: Norfolk is ahead.
Walpole is about 6 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Walpole works out roughly $3,400 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Norfolk if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Norfolk numbers →Choose Walpole if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
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.
| Norfolk | Walpole | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS percentile | 78th | 84th |
| Niche district rank | 75th of 236 | 68th of 236 |
| 4BR house | $950kT3 | $875kT2 |
| 2BR condo | $535k | $500k |
| Commute to Boston | 55 minT3 | 49 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~55 min to terminal | Commuter rail · ~48 min to terminal |
| Tax rate | $15.00T4 | $12.45T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$14,300 | ≈$10,900 |
| 3BR rent | $3,103/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.
