Compare towns
Norfolk vs Woonsocket vs Norwell
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 people working from home (32.6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Woonsocket | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673 |
43,521Highest |
11,361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3Highest 7% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.2±1.4 about the U.S. average |
| Norfolk and Norwell 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% |
23.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwell 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% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norwell and Woonsocket 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Norwell 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$188,699±$25k 134% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Norwell 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 43% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Norwell 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwell 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Norwell 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Norwell |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.