Compare towns
Upton vs Norfolk vs Chaplin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Norfolk has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Norfolk | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Highest |
1,723Lowest |
2,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48.2±7.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$116 16% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,065 94% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norfolk School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.