Compare towns
Norfolk vs Dover vs Medway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Medway has the most affordable homes ($617k 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 | Dover | Medway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673 |
5,930Lowest |
13,436Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
40.7±2.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22k 93% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$173,750±$18kLowest 67% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$617,300±$21kLowest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,575±$205Lowest 11% below MA |
| Dover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,730Lowest 46% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
35.3%±21.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Medway 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
3.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #40 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Medway |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Medway High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
13.8Highest |
| 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.