Compare towns
Millis vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
32,459Highest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Millis and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Millis 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$200,720±$22k 93% above MA |
| Needham 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
| Needham and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%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 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | — | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.