Compare towns
Upton vs Hingham vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | Upton | Hingham | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
24,283Highest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Norfolk and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Norfolk and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
| Hingham and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 22% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Norfolk 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hingham | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.