RANK #745 / 1001 NAT · #10 / 12 MA · POP 730,082
1YR FORECAST: -0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Norfolk County, Massachusetts, is often recognized as the "County of Presidents," being the birthplace of four U.S. Presidents: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John F. Kennedy, and George H. W. Bush. Located southwest and south of Boston, the county offers a mix of suburban and rural environments. Commute options to Boston are available via the MBTA commuter rail, with towns like Canton and Westwood offering efficient train and highway access. The community feel across its 28 towns and one city, Quincy, often emphasizes safety, cleanliness, and local engagement. Outdoor recreation is accessible through areas like the Blue Hills Reservation, offering hiking and scenic views, and Wollaston Beach.
Life in Norfolk County is characterized by a blend of suburban comfort and access to urban centers. Many residents own their homes, and the public schools are highly rated, making it attractive to families. The county is considered one of the wealthiest in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $120,621. While specific major employers are not consistently highlighted as distinctive, the economy benefits from wholesale trade and manufacturing, including communications equipment. Real estate activity in Norfolk County has shown consistent growth, with increasing property transactions and mortgage recordings in recent months.
Norfolk County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.0% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 16.4x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 25/100, Norfolk County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $130,739 combined with job growth of +0.6% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Norfolk County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $683,900 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $2,149/month on average.
Norfolk County's population is growing — up +0.8% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.6%). Home values shifted +1.0% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.8% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Norfolk County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.