Compare towns
Lynnfield vs Marblehead 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%).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Norfolk has the most affordable homes ($725k 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 | Lynnfield | Marblehead | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,064 |
20,413Highest |
11,673Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marblehead 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±$23kLowest 69% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Norfolk and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $917,600±$31k 63% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$725,200±$34kLowest 29% above MA |
| Marblehead and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older 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%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Norfolk 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynnfield | Marblehead | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Lynnfield High | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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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.