Compare towns
Bellingham vs Newfields vs Norton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellingham has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,410 |
2,023Lowest |
19,240Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.6±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellingham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
12.9%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,307±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$124,535±$11kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,700±$13kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$501,400±$27k 51% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$196Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,911±$375Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Norton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,030Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,929 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.6%±8.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellingham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Norton 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 | — | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bellingham | Newfields School District | Norton |
| High school in town | Bellingham High School | None in town | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.