Compare towns

Norfolk vs Upton vs Washington 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 most affordable homes ($431k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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.

MeasureNorfolkUptonWashingtonGoshen
People
Population
1,723Lowest
8,189Highest
3,676
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.
49.9±5.5
28% above U.S.
51.4±3.6Highest
32% above U.S.
Goshen and Washington 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%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Washington 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%
26.9%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
26.8%±5.4
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.7%
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%
6.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Washington and Goshen 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.
$101,549±$16k
26% 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±$41k
73% above U.S.
$660,200±$130kHighest
98% above U.S.
$482,400±$71k
45% 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±$264
15% below U.S.
$1,250±$724Highest
12% below U.S.
Goshen and Washington 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.
$4,709Lowest
51% above U.S.
$5,292
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.3%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.1%±24Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
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.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below 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%
20.1%±9
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 #17 of 149 in CT —
School district Norfolk School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Regional School District 12 Regional School District 20
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley Shepaug Valley School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Highest
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.