Compare towns
Norwood vs Upton vs Northampton
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%).
Northampton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Norwood | Upton | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,542Highest |
8,189Lowest |
30,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
| Upton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest 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% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,030±$11k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,700±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,111 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Upton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwood | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Norwood High | Blackstone Valley | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.