Compare towns
Colebrook vs Norfolk vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Norfolk has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Colebrook | Norfolk | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
1,723 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,190±$116 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211 99% above U.S. |
$6,065Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Upton 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 | — | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Norfolk School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.