Compare towns

Norfolk vs Norwell 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 people working from home (32.6%).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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.

MeasureNorfolkNorwellMillis
People
Population
11,673Highest
11,361
8,888Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±1.3
4% above MA
39.2±1.4Lowest
about the MA average
46.4±3Highest
16% above MA
Kids under 18
24.4%±3.8
MA: 19.4%
28.5%±3.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.4%±2.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Norwell 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%
16.1%±2
MA: 17.9%
23.5%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.6%
MA: 47.3%
69.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
54.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Millis and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$200,720±$22kHighest
93% above MA
$188,699±$25k
82% above MA
$155,996±$9kLowest
50% above MA
Norfolk and Norwell 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
$865,700±$35kHighest
54% above MA
$603,500±$31kLowest
7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,019±$598
15% above MA
$2,215±$336Highest
26% above MA
$1,696±$279Lowest
4% below MA
Norwell 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%±16
MA: 51.8%
67.1%±24.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.5%±16.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Norwell 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%
2.7%
MA: 10%
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
91.6%
MA: 62.5%
83.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
24% above MA
35 min
21% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
Work from home
32.6%±5.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
27.1%±4.5
MA: 18.6%
17.5%±4.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Norfolk and Norwell 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 #80 of 282 in MA #63 of 282 in MA
School district King Philip · Millis Norwell Millis
High school in town None in town Norwell High Millis High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.7Highest
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.