Norfolk County, MA elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Norfolk County: 9 seats on 7 elected bodies. 3 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

County Commissioners (in the six counties that still have a county government)

Norfolk County Commissioners

Every member is elected countywide.

OfficeWho holds it now
County CommissionerJoseph P. Shea source
County CommissionerPeter H. Collins source
County CommissionerRichard R. Staiti source

Official website

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
Clerk of CourtsWalter F. Timilty, Jr. Democratic source
Register of ProbateColleen Marie Brierley Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
SheriffPatrick W. McDermott Democratic source
County TreasurerMichael G. Bellotti Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
District Attorney, Norfolk DistrictMichael W. Morrissey Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Register of Deeds, Norfolk DistrictWilliam Patrick O'Donnell Democratic source

How many local governments Norfolk County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 64 local governments in Norfolk County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships (4 municipal, 24 township)280
School districts (school boards)40
Special districts (elected boards)310

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments (29 in Norfolk County), though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Norfolk County

730,082people
40.9median ageU.S.: 38.9
$130,739 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
6.7%below the U.S.: 12.5%
58.8%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$683,900median home valueU.S.: $332,700
4.9%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
19.3%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
3.8%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
1.9%U.S.: 8.4%
51.4%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
28.1%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 5.8% · White 68.7% · Black 7.1% · Asian 12.4% · Other or more than one race 6% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Norfolk County

3.9%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.1%. Massachusetts: 4.1%.
16,075people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
399,481people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
415,556in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Norfolk County 0.0%2.3%4.6%6.9%9.1% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)3.9%16,075399,481415,556
August 20264.0%16,694399,976416,670
July 20264.3%18,036401,057419,093
June 20263.9%16,178401,037417,215
May 20263.8%15,690396,888412,578
April 20263.7%15,408398,635414,043
March 20264.0%16,431397,260413,691
February 20264.5%18,553396,170414,723
January 20264.6%19,073396,592415,665
December 20254.2%17,437400,338417,775
November 20254.3%18,186401,862420,048
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20254.1%17,450403,725421,175
August 20254.3%18,257407,461425,718
July 20254.4%18,641408,942427,583
June 20254.2%17,940407,665425,605
May 20254.1%17,365405,019422,384
April 20253.6%15,466409,505424,971
March 20254.0%16,931408,150425,081
February 20254.1%17,529406,634424,163
January 20254.0%16,859407,444424,303
December 20243.6%15,193407,901423,094
November 20243.5%14,988407,362422,350
October 20243.6%15,039406,507421,546
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)4.1%17,460406,068423,528
20243.6%15,212405,351420,563
20233.1%12,854396,645409,499
20223.2%12,877389,645402,522
20214.7%18,624376,558395,182
20208.7%34,011358,224392,235
20192.6%10,628392,739403,367
20183.1%12,149385,783397,932
20173.4%13,088374,065387,153
20163.5%13,147366,049379,196

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Massachusetts's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 4.3% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Norfolk County

173.8 per 100,0002025. Massachusetts: 302.7.
843.5 per 100,0002025. Massachusetts: 1,031.2.
7murders2025, 1,300 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
20251,300173.86,309843.5
20241,388185.86,583881.2
20231,406191.76,600899.8
20221,436196.45,988818.9
20211,165161.05,638779.1
20201,179165.75,563782.0
By police agency (28)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Quincy Police Department20253121,238103,649
Brookline Police Department20257946363,981
Weymouth Police Department202514436360,691
Braintree Police Department202510255839,044
Randolph Police Department20257041635,056
Franklin Police Department2025246834,015
Needham Police Department20252619433,018
Wellesley Police Department20251610431,811
Norwood Police Department20253918831,727
Stoughton Police Department20257034429,430
Milton Police Department20252016028,787
Walpole Police Department20253520826,289
Dedham Police Department20255238125,484
Canton Police Department20256613825,290
Foxborough Police Department20254411118,788
Sharon Police Department202544418,765
Bellingham Police Department20255418818,222
Westwood Police Department2025432516,565
Medway Police Department2025134313,993
Medfield Police Department2025102013,434
Wrentham Police Department20251522512,572
Norfolk Police Department202512212,033
Holbrook Police Department20252512511,467
Plainville Police Department20252310810,074
Millis Police Department20259109,534
Cohasset Police Department202515298,548
Dover Police Department20256226,077
Avon Police Department2025111074,795

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Massachusetts · the U.S.

Police staffing

1.93 per 1,000 residents2025, 28 agencies serving 743,139 people.
1,436sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
231civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (28), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Quincy Police Department23637103,649
Brookline Police Department1193863,981
Weymouth Police Department1002060,691
Braintree Police Department841939,044
Randolph Police Department66435,056
Norwood Police Department62731,727
Stoughton Police Department65229,430
Milton Police Department541228,787
Dedham Police Department57425,484
Franklin Police Department55434,015
Walpole Police Department481126,289
Needham Police Department47933,018
Wellesley Police Department441131,811
Bellingham Police Department36918,222
Foxborough Police Department41418,788
Westwood Police Department341016,565
Canton Police Department40125,290
Sharon Police Department33418,765
Plainville Police Department26210,074
Medway Police Department27013,993
Holbrook Police Department25111,467
Wrentham Police Department24212,572
Millis Police Department1969,534
Cohasset Police Department2038,548
Medfield Police Department19413,434
Avon Police Department1754,795
Norfolk Police Department20212,033
Dover Police Department1806,077
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
20251,4361.9323128
20241,3901.8725328

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Norfolk County Clerk of Courts?
Walter F. Timilty, Jr. (Democratic) is the Clerk of Courts of Norfolk County, Massachusetts.
Who is the Norfolk County Register of Probate?
Colleen Marie Brierley (Democratic) is the Register of Probate of Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Norfolk County Sheriff?
Patrick W. McDermott (Democratic) is the Sheriff of Norfolk County, Massachusetts.
Who is the Norfolk County County Treasurer?
Michael G. Bellotti (Democratic) is the County Treasurer of Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Norfolk County District Attorney, Norfolk District?
Michael W. Morrissey (Democratic) is the District Attorney, Norfolk District of Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Norfolk County Register of Deeds, Norfolk District?
William Patrick O'Donnell (Democratic) is the Register of Deeds, Norfolk District of Norfolk County, Massachusetts.
Who are the Norfolk County commissioners?
Joseph P. Shea (County Commissioner); Peter H. Collins (County Commissioner); Richard R. Staiti (County Commissioner).
What is the population of Norfolk County?
About 730,082 people, with a median age of 40.9; the median household income is $130,739 and 6.7% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Norfolk County?
3.9% in September 2026 (preliminary): 16,075 people unemployed in a labor force of 415,556, against 4.1% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Norfolk County?
64 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 4 municipal, 24 township, 4 school district and 31 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the Secretary of the Commonwealth's certified election statistics (PD43+) of each seat's last election, and the county governments' own pages for their commissioners; officials appointed since an election may differ; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

Norfolk County's 2026 ballot and results · Every Massachusetts county · Massachusetts's members of Congress

See your members of Congress and every race and measure on your ballot in Norfolk County, from your address. Your address stays in your browser.Look up my races

See something wrong on this page? Report a problem · Corrections