Compare towns

Norwood vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).

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.

MeasureNorwoodUpton
People
Population
31,542Highest
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39±1.8Lowest
about the MA average
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
Kids under 18
20%±2.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±1.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Upton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,030±$11kLowest
about the MA average
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$651,700±$13kHighest
16% above MA
$576,700±$41kLowest
about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,116±$83Highest
20% above MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,111Lowest
about the MA average
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.3%±7.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Norwood and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
4% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
16.1%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Upton and Norwood 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 #176 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Norwood Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Norwood High Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.