Compare towns
Norfolk vs Upton vs Rowley
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 people working from home (32.6%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 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 | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673Highest |
8,189 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Upton 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%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
| Norfolk and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Norfolk and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.