Compare towns
Norfolk vs Needham vs Millis
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 homeowners (94.9%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | Needham | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673 |
32,459Highest |
8,888Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
| Millis 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% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Millis 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,996±$9kLowest 50% above MA |
| Needham 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% 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 | $9,651 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,344Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Millis 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% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Needham | Millis |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.