Compare towns
Norfolk vs Putnam vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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 | Putnam | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673Highest |
9,292Lowest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwell and Putnam 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 149% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$188,699±$25k 134% above U.S. |
| 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 118% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 43% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Norwell and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,651 209% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Putnam School District | Norwell |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.