Compare towns
Millis vs Lexington vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Lexington has the most expensive homes ($1203k median).
Norfolk has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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 | Millis | Lexington | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
34,295Highest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 16% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Lexington and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,996±$9kLowest 50% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$200,720±$22k 93% above MA |
| Lexington and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Lexington | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Lexington High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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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.