Population 730,082 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Norfolk County
Household size in Norfolk County
| Period | Norfolk County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.59 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Norfolk County average 2.59 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Norfolk County
| Period | Norfolk County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.8 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.9 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Norfolk County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.9, against 40.1 nationally. The Boston area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.6, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Norfolk County
| Period | Norfolk County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Norfolk County: 7.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Only one other Massachusetts county has a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Norfolk County
Renters in Norfolk County
| Period | Norfolk County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.6% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.0% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.1% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.3% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Norfolk County own their homes; 31.3% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. About a third of owners (33.5%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 1.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Norfolk County
| Period | Norfolk County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.0% of homes in Norfolk County are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.4 points, in line with the national trend. No other Massachusetts county has a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Norfolk County
| Period | Norfolk County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Norfolk County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1965, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1960 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Norfolk County
| Period | Norfolk County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,234 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,298 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,619 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,148 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$913 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Norfolk County costs $2,148 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $913 a month since 2006–10, up 74%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.9% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Norfolk County
Bachelor's degrees in Norfolk County
| Period | Norfolk County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.3% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 50.9% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 54.7% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 59.8% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Norfolk County: 59.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 11.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. No other Massachusetts county has a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Norfolk County
| Period | Norfolk County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.3% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.0% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.2% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Norfolk County is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 0.8 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Norfolk County
| Period | Norfolk County | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.8%, unemployment in Norfolk County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Of Massachusetts' 14 counties, only two have lower unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Norfolk County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk County | 2.59 | 41.9 | 7.9% | 31.3% | 5.0% | 1965 | $2,148 | 59.8% | 94.1% | 4.8% |
| Suffolk County | 2.36 | 35.9 | 12.1% | 63.5% | 9.3% | 1957 | $2,151 | 50.4% | 86.9% | 6.7% |
| Worcester County | 2.56 | 41.1 | 11.7% | 34.2% | 6.8% | 1965 | $1,549 | 39.8% | 90.9% | 5.3% |
| Hampshire County | 2.31 | 40.8 | 8.1% | 32.2% | 10.0% | 1967 | $1,516 | 52.5% | 95.9% | 5.4% |
| Hampden County | 2.51 | 40.7 | 15.3% | 37.8% | 7.7% | 1958 | $1,261 | 29.0% | 86.7% | 6.3% |
| Columbia County | 2.25 | 49.0 | 11.1% | 23.7% | 19.4% | 1965 | $1,305 | 38.7% | 91.6% | 5.5% |
| Greene County | 2.43 | 48.0 | 6.9% | 22.8% | 28.7% | 1967 | $1,099 | 31.2% | 89.9% | 4.1% |
| Delaware County | 2.22 | 49.0 | 9.5% | 22.7% | 32.4% | 1968 | $916 | 28.3% | 88.8% | 6.0% |
| Broome County | 2.36 | 41.0 | 12.4% | 35.5% | 13.0% | 1960 | $1,042 | 31.7% | 90.7% | 6.9% |
| Tioga County | 2.36 | 44.4 | 12.6% | 20.9% | 8.1% | 1966 | $1,014 | 25.0% | 91.1% | 5.5% |
| Chemung County | 2.27 | 42.8 | 12.2% | 31.6% | 10.9% | 1957 | $1,117 | 27.5% | 90.8% | 5.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Bernalillo County, NM · Multnomah County, OR · San Mateo County, CA · Jefferson County, KY · Jefferson County, AL · Jackson County, MO · Hudson County, NJ · Fort Bend County, TX · Essex County, MA · El Paso County, CO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Norfolk County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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