What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).

Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Upton	Norwell
People
Population	8,189Lowest	11,361Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Norwell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Upton and Norwell 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%	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Norwell and Upton 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	$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA
	Norwell and Upton 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	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,376Lowest 40% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8%	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 22% above MA	35 minLowest 21% above MA
Work from home	22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Norwell 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	#80 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton	Norwell
High school in town	Blackstone Valley	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.