Compare towns
Norfolk vs Douglas vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Norfolk | Douglas | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
9,207Highest |
3,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.4±3.6Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Goshen and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$152,093±$27k 88% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,900±$54kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$482,400±$71kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Goshen and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,250±$724 12% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065 94% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$5,292Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Douglas and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Douglas | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.