Compare towns

Norfolk vs Webster 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 most people working from home (23.3%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Goshen has the highest household income ($152k).

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.

MeasureNorfolkWebsterGoshen
People
Population
1,723Lowest
17,748Highest
3,196
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.2±7.4
24% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%
19.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Webster 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%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
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%
25.3%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%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster 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±$16k
13% above U.S.
$72,895±$6kLowest
10% below U.S.
$152,093±$27kHighest
88% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$430,900±$54k
30% above U.S.
$361,500±$12kLowest
9% above U.S.
$482,400±$71kHighest
45% above U.S.
Goshen 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.
$1,228±$81
13% below U.S.
$1,250±$724Highest
12% below U.S.
Goshen and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,065Highest
94% above U.S.
$3,999Lowest
28% above U.S.
$5,292
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.3%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±25.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Webster and Goshen 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%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
42 minHighest
59% above U.S.
Work from home
23.3%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Norfolk and Goshen 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 — #271 of 282 in MA —
School district Norfolk School District Webster Regional School District 20
High school in town None in town Bartlett High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6
—
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.