Compare towns
Norfolk vs Upton vs Plainville
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).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
8,189 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest 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% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16k 13% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Highest 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.