City Report · MA

Walpole

Pop. 6,461·48th most expensive in Massachusetts·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$2,772/mo
Year-over-Year
+3.1%
Month-over-Month
+1.0%
vs US Median
+$840
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Walpole rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Walpole · $2,772
More expensive than 86% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
22% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,772/mo, rent takes about 22% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$111,000/yr
Local median income
$154,263/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Walpole's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,000
1 BR
$2,140
2 BR
$2,550
3 BR
$3,080
4 BR+
$3,390
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$2,550/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,772 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Massachusetts

Rent in Walpole changed +3.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($154,263) is $3,857 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,390).

Cheaper nearby

Plainville, 10 miles away, rents for 18% less ($2,273/mo), about $6,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Walpole. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$33,264/yr
At $2,772/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (3.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+3.1% YoY, +1.0% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Walpole, MA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 65.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
6,461
Median income
$154,263
Median age
45.1
Renters
18.5%
Age distribution
19.2%
21.3%
22.8%
16.7%
20%
Under 1819.2%
18–3421.3%
35–5422.8%
55–6416.7%
65+20%
Gender
47.9%
52.1%
Male47.9%
Female52.1%
Race & ethnicity
90.5%
White90.5%
Black2%
Hispanic3.6%
Asian3.3%
Other0.6%
Education (25+)
14.1%
18.9%
65.6%
No HS diploma1.4%
HS diploma14.1%
Some college18.9%
Bachelor's+65.6%
Housing tenure
81.5%
18.5%
Owner81.5%
Renter18.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Walpole, MA has changed in 5 years

Income
$97,344 → $154,263
up 58.5%
Population
6,188 → 6,461
up 4.4%
Renter share
21.3% → 18.5%
-2.8 pts
Bachelor's+
52.8% → 65.6%
+12.8 pts

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $97,344 in 2021 to $154,263 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 6,188 to 6,461 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.4% change. About 18.5% of households rent today, against 21.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 52.8% to 65.6%.

Community

Discussions about Walpole

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Walpole rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Walpole on your salary?

At $2,772/mo, how Walpole rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Walpole rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Walpole. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Walpole

About renting in Walpole, MA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Walpole is $2,772/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,550/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,140/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,080/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($154,263/yr), Walpole ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Walpole?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $111,000/year (about $53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,772/mo in Walpole. The local median household income is $154,263/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Walpole?

Rent in Walpole has risen 3.1% over the past year.

How does Walpole rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?

Walpole is in the middle among Massachusetts cities for rent, ranking #48 of 107 tracked cities at $2,772/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Walpole changed +3.1%, against a typical +2.8% across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Walpole?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Walpole ($2,772/mo) include Norwood ($2,579/mo), and Foxborough ($2,655/mo).
Income Affordability
22%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,772/mo, rent takes ~22% of Walpole's median household income ($154,263/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Walpole 22%Benchmark 30%
State income tax5%
Run the Walpole affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Walpole
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Walpole, MA

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Walpole.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.