HomeMassachusettsNorfolk County
Norfolk County, Massachusetts: commercial real estate data.
Norfolk County, Massachusetts had an estimated 740,754 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 726,010, across 396 square miles. County output reached $75.07 bn in 2024, 20,745 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 1,095 7(a) approvals worth $343.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Norfolk County
How many people live in Norfolk County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024730,082
- Households283,368
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$130,739
- Median age40.9
- Median gross rent$2,149 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$683,900
- Home value to household income5.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher58.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree28.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over518,103
- Population under 18149,313
- Share under 1820.5 percent
- Population 65 and over129,645
- Share 65 and over17.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64451,124
- Civilian labor force414,608
- Unemployment rate4.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.4 percent
- Rank by population among Massachusetts counties5th of 14
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included90th of 3,222
Norfolk County is the 5th largest of 14 Massachusetts counties by population. A median home costs 5.2 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 20.5 percent against 17.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Norfolk County
Is Norfolk County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024740,754
- Census 2020 base population726,010
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.03 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20248,375
- Births, 20247,102
- Deaths, 20246,016
- Natural change, 20241,086
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,452
- Net international migration, 20248,722
- Total net migration, 20247,270
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-12,411
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1161st of 3,144
The county has grown 2.03 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Norfolk County
Where are people moving to Norfolk County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving22,896
- People arriving, from those returns35,450
- Tax returns filed by households leaving25,098
- Net household movement-2,202
- Adjusted gross income arriving$3.23 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-73.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$141,216
- Average income of a leaving household$131,769
- Largest single originSuffolk County (6,241 households)
- Largest single destinationSuffolk County (4,227 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County | 6,241 | 9,841 | $1.01 bn |
| Middlesex County | 3,966 | 6,297 | $839.1 m |
| Plymouth County | 2,427 | 3,686 | $209.9 m |
| Bristol County | 1,273 | 2,054 | $106.6 m |
| Worcester County | 864 | 1,352 | $74.9 m |
| Providence County | 477 | 677 | $37.1 m |
| Essex County | 412 | 609 | $32.9 m |
| Barnstable County | 371 | 541 | $73.3 m |
Households arriving report $9,447 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Suffolk County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Norfolk County
What is the Norfolk County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$75.07 bn
- County GDP, 2023$71.42 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.1 percent
- GDP change over five years33.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Massachusetts areas BEA publishes3rd of 14
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes72nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$102,826
Output grew 5.1 percent in the latest year and 33.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Norfolk County
Employment by industry in Norfolk County
- Covered employment, annual average346,327
- Establishments reporting26,156
- Average annual pay$84,497
- Average weekly wage$1,625
- Health care and social assistance, employment55,899
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$66,004
- Retail trade, employment38,603
- Retail trade, average annual pay$47,519
- Accommodation and food services, employment27,153
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$33,227
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment23,792
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$157,918
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment22,035
- Construction, employment21,945
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 55,899 | 5,786 | $66,004 |
| Retail trade | 38,603 | 2,170 | $47,519 |
| Accommodation and food services | 27,153 | 1,559 | $33,227 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 23,792 | 3,535 | $157,918 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 22,035 | 1,266 | $69,405 |
| Construction | 21,945 | 2,247 | $107,428 |
| Finance and insurance | 21,216 | 1,261 | $136,128 |
| Manufacturing | 18,731 | 557 | $100,316 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 55,899 jobs, 16.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Norfolk County
How many businesses are in Norfolk County?
- Establishments, all industries20,745
- Employment at those establishments337,287
- Annual payroll$25.94 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents28.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Norfolk County
Building permits in Norfolk County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,224
- Declared construction value permitted$459.2 m
- Single family units authorized647
- Multifamily units authorized577
- Multifamily share of units47.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$375,130
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.3
Multifamily is 47.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Norfolk County
SBA loans in Norfolk County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded1,095
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$343.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$313,333
- Median 7(a) approval$125,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$762,840
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)9,983
- Jobs per approval9.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active104
- Distinct industries receiving approvals252
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer3.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms33
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter1,019
- Franchise loans89
- Franchise share of approvals8.1 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLandscaping Services (60)
- Most active lenderEastern Bank (232)
- 504 approvals recorded461
- 504 gross approval dollars$357.3 m
- Average 504 approval$775,091
- Median 504 approval$440,000
- Distinct CDCs active7
- 504 jobs per approval9.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.9
- Most active CDCGranite State Economic Development Corporation (154)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$700.4 m
The average approval of $313,333 sits well above the median of $125,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 3.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Norfolk County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Norfolk County
Do SBA loans in Norfolk County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded226
- Paid in full210
- Charged off16
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans7.1 percent
- Status: Paid in full210
- Status: Exempt from disclosure661
- Status: Cancelled135
- Status: Charged off16
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed73
Of the 226 loans that have reached a final outcome, 7.1 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Norfolk County
SBA lending by place in Norfolk County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending42
- Quincy, approvals125
- Brookline, approvals76
- Braintree Town, approvals70
- Norwood, approvals67
- Franklin Town, approvals67
- Dedham, approvals54
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Quincy | 125 | $34,234,300 |
| Brookline | 76 | $15,832,500 |
| Braintree Town | 70 | $23,198,300 |
| Norwood | 67 | $24,239,900 |
| Franklin Town | 67 | $11,367,700 |
| Dedham | 54 | $23,114,400 |
| Stoughton | 51 | $15,414,000 |
| Canton | 49 | $22,406,100 |
| 34 other borrower cities | 536 | $173,292,300 |
Quincy accounts for 125 approvals against 76 in Brookline. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Norfolk County
How large is Norfolk County?
- Land area396 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Massachusetts counties10th of 14
- Width, east to west30.5 mi
- Height, north to south23.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land1,844
- Establishments per square mile52.39
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Norfolk County
Flood risk in Norfolk County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book28
- Of those, participating in the NFIP28
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Norfolk County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Norfolk County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Norfolk County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Norfolk County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024730,082
- Households283,368
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$130,739
- Median age40.9
Common questions
Norfolk County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Norfolk County, Massachusetts?
The Census Bureau estimates 740,754 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 730,082, in 283,368 households, ranking 5th of 14 Massachusetts counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Norfolk County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.03 percent since the 2020 census base of 726,010, to 740,754 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 7,102 births against 6,016 deaths, with net migration of 7,270. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Norfolk County?
$130,739. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $683,900, which is 5.2 times income, and median gross rent is $2,149 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Norfolk County?
20,745 establishments, employing 337,287 people with an annual payroll of $25.94 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Norfolk County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 55,899 jobs, 16.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 346,327 jobs at an average annual pay of $84,497, or $1,625 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Norfolk County?
1,095 7(a) approvals totaling $343.1 m since FY2020, across 104 lenders, with a median approval of $125,000, plus 461 504 approvals worth $357.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Norfolk County get paid back?
Of the 226 loans that have reached a final outcome, 210 were paid in full and 16 charged off, a charge-off rate of 7.1 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Norfolk County?
1,224 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $459.2 m. Multifamily was 47.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Norfolk County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Norfolk County come from?
The largest single origin is Suffolk County, with 6,241 households. Arriving households report an average income of $141,216 against $131,769 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Norfolk County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Norfolk County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Norfolk County
Cities and places in Norfolk.
19 Census places lie wholly or partly in Norfolk County. All 19 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quincy | city | 102,114 | 125 | Wholly in this county |
| Brookline | CDP | 63,266 | 76 | Wholly in this county |
| Weymouth Town | city | 58,505 | 33 | Wholly in this county |
| Braintree Town | city | 38,899 | 70 | Wholly in this county |
| Randolph Town | city | 34,878 | 29 | Wholly in this county |
| Franklin Town | city | 33,154 | 67 | Wholly in this county |
| Needham | CDP | 32,459 | 36 | Wholly in this county |
| Norwood | CDP | 31,542 | 67 | Wholly in this county |
| Wellesley | CDP | 30,347 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Milton | CDP | 28,587 | 28 | Wholly in this county |
| Dedham | CDP | 25,237 | 54 | Wholly in this county |
| Holbrook | CDP | 11,380 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Medfield | CDP | 6,849 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Walpole | CDP | 6,461 | 47 | Wholly in this county |
| Foxborough | CDP | 6,251 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Sharon | CDP | 6,232 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Bellingham | CDP | 5,325 | 28 | Wholly in this county |
| Millis-Clicquot | CDP | 4,437 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dover | CDP | 2,308 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
A further 374 of the county's 1,095 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Norfolk County, the largest being Stoughton (51), Canton (49), Wrentham (30). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.