Compare towns
Norwell vs Upton vs Plainfield vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Norwell | Upton | Plainfield | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,361 |
8,189Lowest |
15,141Highest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4 about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.6±1.3 7% 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 | 28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwell and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $188,699±$25k 134% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$725,200±$34k 118% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$2,019±$598 43% above U.S. |
| Norwell and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$9,651 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwell and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Blackstone Valley | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.2 |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.