Compare towns
Norton vs Ogunquit vs Pepperell 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
Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Norton | Ogunquit | Pepperell | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,240Highest |
1,379Lowest |
11,663 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11k 54% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27k 51% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375Highest 35% above U.S. |
— | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,929 90% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #173 of 282 in MA | — | #153 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | — | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Norton High | — | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | — | 11.2Highest |
| 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.