Compare towns
Norfolk vs Plainville 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
Norfolk has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Norfolk | Plainville | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
17,551Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16k 13% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Norfolk and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065 94% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.