Compare towns
Colebrook vs Sturbridge 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
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Norfolk has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Sturbridge | Upton | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
48.2±7.4 24% 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest 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% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$116 16% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,065Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.