Compare towns
Norfolk vs Sturbridge vs Lynnfield
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 most people working from home (32.6%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Sturbridge | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673 |
9,960Lowest |
13,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynnfield and Norfolk 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% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$175,265±$23k 69% above MA |
| Norfolk and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
| Lynnfield and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,651 61% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynnfield 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 MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Lynnfield 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.