Compare towns
Norfolk vs Lynnfield 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 affordable homes ($725k median).
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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.
| Measure | Norfolk | Lynnfield | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673 |
13,064Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
| Harvard 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% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest 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% |
17.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Lynnfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Harvard 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±$22k 93% above MA |
$175,265±$23kLowest 69% 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±$34kLowest 29% above MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
| Lynnfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Lynnfield and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,651Lowest 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.2%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #123 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Lynnfield | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Lynnfield High | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Highest |
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.