Compare towns
Norfolk vs Upton vs Plainfield vs Canaan
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 housing (typical home built 1938).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Canaan has the shortest commute (17 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 | Norfolk | Upton | Plainfield | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
8,189 |
15,141Highest |
1,175Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.2±3.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Canaan 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Plainfield 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Canaan 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.8% 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% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
12%±8.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16k 13% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$89,632±$25k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$469,400±$33k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,830±$307Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065 94% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,331 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.2%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canaan and Norfolk 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Plainfield High School | Housatonic Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.3 |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.