Compare towns
Wrentham vs Acton vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | Wrentham | Acton | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,297 |
24,155Highest |
11,673Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Wrentham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wrentham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,676±$17kLowest 46% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $654,900±$26kLowest 17% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
| Norfolk and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,373Lowest 23% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Norfolk 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Acton-Boxborough | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
13.5 |
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| 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.