Compare towns
Lynnfield vs Ashby vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Lynnfield | Ashby | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,064Highest |
3,211Lowest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lynnfield and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $175,265±$23k 69% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Norfolk and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
| Lynnfield and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynnfield and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynnfield | North Middlesex | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Lynnfield High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.