Compare towns

Woonsocket vs Norfolk vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureWoonsocketNorfolkUpton
People
Population
43,521Highest
11,673
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
41.6±1.3
7% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
Upton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
24.4%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Norfolk and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$200,720±$22kHighest
149% above U.S.
$155,508±$33k
93% above U.S.
Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$725,200±$34kHighest
118% above U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$2,019±$598Highest
43% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$9,651Highest
209% above U.S.
$8,376
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.6%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
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 #37 of 38 in RI #123 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket King Philip · Millis Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Woonsocket High School None in town Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
15.2Highest
—
11.2Lowest
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.