Compare towns
Bellingham vs Everett vs Norton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has the most affordable homes ($451k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Norton has the shortest commute (33 min average).
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 | Bellingham | Everett | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410Lowest |
50,045Highest |
19,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5 4% below MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average |
| Norton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bellingham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Norton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
| Bellingham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$501,400±$27k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,911±$375 8% above MA |
| Everett and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030 16% below MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,929Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
33 minLowest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norton and Bellingham 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 | #232 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Everett | Norton |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | Everett High | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
12.1 |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.