Compare towns
Douglas vs Norfolk vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most renters (16.2% rent).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Douglas | Norfolk | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,673Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norfolk and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34kHighest 118% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,019±$598Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Norfolk and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$9,651Highest 209% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norfolk and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | King Philip · Millis | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 7.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.