Compare towns
Norwell vs Upton vs Plainfield vs Topsfield
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 kids (28.5% under 18).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,361 |
8,189 |
15,141Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Highest 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. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Upton and Topsfield 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% |
24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1.9 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. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Topsfield 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. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Norwell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% 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% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | Topsfield |
| 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.