Compare towns

Norfolk vs Plainville

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 highest household income ($201k).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).

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.

MeasureNorfolkPlainville
People
Population
11,673Highest
9,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+20.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
43.2±3.6Highest
8% above MA
Plainville and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.4%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.3%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Norfolk and Plainville 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%
22.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
44.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Plainville 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±$22kHighest
93% above MA
$104,106±$13kLowest
about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$725,200±$34kHighest
29% above MA
$476,000±$35kLowest
15% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,019±$598Highest
15% above MA
$1,977±$197Lowest
12% above MA
Norfolk and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,651Highest
61% above MA
$5,329Lowest
11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±16Highest
MA: 51.8%
53.8%±13.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Norfolk and Plainville 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%
7.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1978Lowest
14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
24% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
32.6%±5.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
17.9%±4.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #123 of 282 in MA #102 of 282 in MA
School district King Philip · Millis Plainville
High school in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.