Compare towns
Lynnfield vs Douglas 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%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Douglas | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,064Highest |
9,207Lowest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Douglas and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest 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%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lynnfield and Douglas 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $175,265±$23k 69% above MA |
$152,267±$10kLowest 46% 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 |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% 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 |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynnfield | Douglas | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Lynnfield High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
7.2Lowest |
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| 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.