Compare towns
Norfolk vs Lancaster vs Washington
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 most affordable homes ($431k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Lancaster | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
8,606Highest |
3,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Washington and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Lancaster 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. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Washington 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±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lancaster 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. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065 94% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Lowest 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 | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Nashoba | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.