Compare towns
Groton vs Norfolk vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Groton | Norfolk | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390 |
11,673Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
| Norfolk and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Groton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Norfolk and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Groton 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | King Philip · Millis | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.