Compare towns
Norfolk vs Upton vs Goshen
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Upton | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
8,189Highest |
3,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.4±3.6Highest 32% 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 | 15.8%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.4 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+ | 48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Highest 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 | $91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$152,093±$27k 88% 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 | $430,900±$54kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$482,400±$71k 45% 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 | $1,190±$116 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,250±$724Highest 12% 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 | $6,065 94% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,292Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±25.1 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 | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.9Lowest 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 | Norfolk School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| 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.