Compare towns
Medway vs Worcester vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Medway | Worcester | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,436 |
207,055Highest |
11,673Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.3 about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
| Norfolk and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Medway and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $173,750±$18k 67% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Norfolk and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $617,300±$21k 10% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$205 11% below MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
| Norfolk and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,730 46% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.3%±21.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #40 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medway | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Medway High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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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.