Compare towns
Canaan vs Sutton vs Upton vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Norfolk has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Canaan | Sutton | Upton | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.2±3.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12%±8.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,632±$25kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16k 13% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $469,400±$33k 41% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$430,900±$54kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,830±$307Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$116 16% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,331 103% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,065Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.2%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canaan and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | Housatonic Valley Regional High School | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.