Compare towns
Norfolk vs Upton vs Sutton 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%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k 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 | Upton | Sutton | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,673 |
8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
13,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.