Compare towns
Norfolk vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673 |
32,459Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
| Harvard and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$22kLowest 93% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$213,996±$24k 106% above MA |
| Needham and Harvard 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Needham 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%±16 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #123 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Needham | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
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.