Compare towns

Norfolk vs Rye vs Medway

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 highest household income ($201k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Medway has the most affordable homes ($617k 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.

MeasureNorfolkRyeMedway
People
Population
11,673
5,611Lowest
13,436Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±1.3
7% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
40.7±2.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
24.4%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Norfolk and Medway 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%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Medway 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
149% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kLowest
74% above U.S.
$173,750±$18k
115% above U.S.
Norfolk and Medway 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.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$617,300±$21kLowest
86% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,019±$598Highest
43% above U.S.
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$1,575±$205Lowest
11% above U.S.
Norfolk and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,651Highest
209% above U.S.
$7,519Lowest
141% above U.S.
$8,730
180% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
35.3%±21.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Norfolk and Rye 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%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
32.6%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.7%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Norfolk and Rye 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 #2 of 120 in NH #40 of 282 in MA
School district King Philip · Millis Rye School District Medway
High school in town None in town None in town Medway High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.8
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.