Compare towns
Norfolk vs Smithfield vs Harvard
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 kids (24.4% under 18).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Smithfield | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673 |
22,233Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norfolk and Harvard 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Harvard 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22k 149% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Norfolk 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. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Norfolk and Harvard 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. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard 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% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #123 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Smithfield | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.