Compare towns
Norton vs Upton vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Upton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240Highest |
8,189Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Upton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| 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 11% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,929Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 12% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Norton 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 | #173 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Norton High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.