Compare towns

Norfolk vs Holbrook vs Harvard

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 kids (24.4% under 18).
Holbrook has the most affordable homes ($465k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).

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.

MeasureNorfolkHolbrookHarvard
People
Population
11,673Highest
11,380
6,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
42.8±3.2
7% above MA
44.1±4.7Highest
10% above MA
Harvard and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.4%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.2%±4.4
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±4.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Norfolk and Holbrook 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%
19.1%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.3%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
Holbrook and Harvard 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%
34.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
62%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Holbrook and Harvard 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
$115,210±$14kLowest
11% above MA
$213,996±$24kHighest
106% above MA
Harvard and Norfolk 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
$465,400±$21kLowest
17% below MA
$833,600±$54kHighest
48% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,019±$598Highest
15% above MA
$1,094±$423Lowest
38% below MA
$1,321±$424
25% below MA
Norfolk and Harvard 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
$6,105Lowest
about the MA average
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±16
MA: 51.8%
47.8%±18.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
72.5%±51.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
Harvard and Norfolk 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%
7.7%Highest
MA: 10%
4.5%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
84%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
24% above MA
38 minHighest
30% above MA
32 minLowest
9% above MA
Work from home
32.6%±5.1
MA: 18.6%
12.1%±3.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #123 of 282 in MA #234 of 282 in MA #12 of 282 in MA
School district King Philip · Millis Holbrook Harvard
High school in town None in town Holbrook Middle High School The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3Highest
11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 12 photos →

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.