Compare towns
Wrentham vs Brookline vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wrentham has the most renters (18% rent).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($544k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Brookline | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,297Highest |
5,736Lowest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Wrentham 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 88% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $654,900±$26k 97% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34kHighest 118% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$2,019±$598 43% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,373Lowest 136% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,651 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norfolk and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Brookline School District | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.