What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norfolk has the most affordable homes ($431k median).

Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norfolk	Lancaster
People
Population	1,723Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±7.4Highest 24% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Norfolk and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster 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%	19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Norfolk 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.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Norfolk 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.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Norfolk 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.	$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,065Lowest 94% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Norfolk 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%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	23.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster 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	—	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Norfolk School District	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.