Compare towns
Norfolk vs Ripton vs Groton
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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673Highest |
508Lowest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27k 139% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Groton 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. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Groton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598Highest 43% above U.S. |
— | $1,458±$335Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Groton 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norfolk and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Groton 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 | — | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.7 |
| 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.