Compare towns
Norfolk vs Upton vs Plainfield vs Washington
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 most people working from home (23.3%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Norfolk | Upton | Plainfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
8,189 |
15,141Highest |
3,676 |
| 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. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Washington and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 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% |
26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Washington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%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% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton 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. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065 94% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Plainfield 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% |
9%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% |
79% 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. |
1971 9 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 |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Plainfield High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.3 |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.