Compare towns
Townsend vs Upton vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Townsend | Upton | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
8,189Lowest |
11,673Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Upton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
| Norfolk and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 minLowest 22% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.