The combination of the configuration interaction method and all-order single-double coupled-cluster technique is used to calculate excitation energies, ionization potentials, and static dipole polarizabilities of superheavy elements nobelium, lawrencium, and rutherfordium. Breit and quantum electrodynamic corrections are also included. The results for the superheavy elements are compared with earlier calculations where available. Similar calculations for lighter analogs, ytterbium, lutetium, and hafnium, are used to study the accuracy of the calculations. The estimated uncertainties of the final results are discussed.