Compare towns
Norfolk vs Devens vs Lynnfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
Devens has the most affordable homes ($557k median).
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Devens | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673 |
1,723Lowest |
13,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynnfield and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lynnfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$175,265±$23kLowest 69% above MA |
| Norfolk and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
$556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
| Lynnfield and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,651 61% above MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
69.2%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Devens 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | — | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | — | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.