Compare towns
Norfolk vs Suffield vs Harvard vs Walpole
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 homeowners (94.9%).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Walpole has the most renters (16.5% rent).
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 | Suffield | Harvard | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,673 |
15,702 |
6,927Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Harvard 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Suffield and Walpole 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22k 149% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16k 112% 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. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 43% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Walpole 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. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #123 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Suffield School District | Harvard | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | The Bromfield High School | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.0 |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.