Compare towns
Goshen 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
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Norfolk has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Goshen | Norfolk | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,196 |
1,723Lowest |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±3.6Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Goshen and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Goshen and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,093±$27k 88% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,400±$71k 45% above U.S. |
$430,900±$54kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$724Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,190±$116 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Goshen and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,292Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,065 94% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.9Lowest 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 | Regional School District 20 | 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.