Cost of Living in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Norfolk County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Norfolk County ranks #3,118 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Norfolk County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $2,149 Monthly
The median gross rent in Norfolk County was estimated at $2,149 per month according to the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. This value is $533 higher than the Massachusetts unweighted county mean rent of $1,616. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) for the county is 30.7%, which differs by 1.0 percentage points from the state unweighted county mean of 31.7%. For owner-occupied units, the median home value was $683,900, which is above the unweighted state county mean of $634,257. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied households were $2,558, whereas the unweighted state county mean was $2,087. The median income for renter-occupied households was reported at $74,159. This report utilizes snapshot statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau and does not provide financial advice, market predictions, or causal explanations for regional cost variations. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Norfolk County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.7% of renter household income in Norfolk County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $2,149 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,558. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $85,960 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Massachusetts unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,616 per month. Norfolk County's $2,149 median is 33.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Norfolk County
Rent Burden
19.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$3,051
per month
Owner Cost Burden
23.5%
of gross income
The median home in Norfolk County may be a stretch
Median home value is $683,900. Estimated monthly cost: $5,460 vs. your max of $3,051.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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