What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

Norton has the most expensive homes ($501k 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	Bellingham	Norton
People
Population	17,410Lowest	19,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.2±1.5Lowest 4% 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%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bellingham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±2.2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA	$124,535±$11kLowest 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	$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$196Lowest 4% above MA	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
	Norton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,030Lowest 16% below MA	$5,929Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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 MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	33 minLowest 12% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±2.7Lowest 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	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Bellingham	Norton
High school in town	Bellingham High School	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.