Compare towns

Norfolk vs Woonsocket vs Upton

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 (32.6%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureNorfolkWoonsocketUpton
People
Population
11,673
43,521Highest
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±1.3
7% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
Upton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.4%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Norfolk and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Woonsocket 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
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket 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
149% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$155,508±$33k
93% above U.S.
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
118% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,019±$598Highest
43% above U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,651Highest
209% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$8,376
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
Work from home
32.6%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
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 #123 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI #46 of 282 in MA
School district King Philip · Millis RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town None in town Woonsocket High School Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2Highest
11.2Lowest
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.