Compare towns
Norfolk vs Upton vs Harvard vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Harvard | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,673 |
8,189 |
6,927Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22k 93% above MA |
$155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Harvard and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
| Walpole and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,651 61% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #123 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Harvard | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | The Bromfield High School | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
11.0Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
MA 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.