The Town FilesNorfolk, Massachusetts
Town in Norfolk County · population 11,662 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $725,200
- Household income
- $200,720
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 41.6
Norfolk is a town of 11,662 people in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $725,200, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better for families than 95% of Massachusetts towns, more upscale than 85% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 76% of Massachusetts towns.
How Norfolk ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Norfolk is worth $725,200, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $200,720, which is more affordable than 88% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,019 a month. 94.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norfolk | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $725,200 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,019 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $200,720 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 94.9% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Norfolk
| People | Norfolk | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61.6% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.2% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 32.6% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 36.2 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 99.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Norfolk
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 19.7°F. About 49.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.7 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norfolk since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 9, 1953 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 13, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 28, 2020.
Severe weather in Norfolk County since 1996
Norfolk County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Norfolk County
Norfolk County had 346,327 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,497 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Norfolk itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Norfolk
3 public schools with 1,748 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| King Philip Middle School | 7-8 | 707 | 13.1 |
| Freeman-Kennedy School | 3-6 | 552 | 12.0 |
| H Olive Day | PK-2 | 489 | 12.5 |
Towns near Norfolk
- Millis-Clicquot, MA3.6 mi · 4,499 people · home $545,600
- Millis, MA4.3 mi · 8,460 people · home $603,500
- Walpole, MA4.3 mi · 26,383 people · home $687,100
- Wrentham, MA4.6 mi · 12,178 people · home $654,900
- Franklin Town, MA4.7 mi · 33,261 people · home $611,700
- Walpole, MA4.7 mi · 6,119 people · home $626,600
- Medfield, MA4.9 mi · 12,799 people · home $911,100
- Medfield, MA5.1 mi · 6,939 people · home $815,300
Norfolk questions
Is Norfolk, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norfolk scores better for retirees than 47% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 53%. 13.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Norfolk?
The median owner-occupied home in Norfolk is valued at $725,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $200,720, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $2,019 a month.
What is the weather like in Norfolk?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 19.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.6 inches of precipitation a year and 47.7 inches of snow.
Does Norfolk get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norfolk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)