What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).

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	Douglas	Norton
People
Population	9,207Lowest	19,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Norton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA	$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA	$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA
	Norton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
	Norton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Highest 6% above MA	$5,929Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8% MA: 62.5%	83.8% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1982Lowest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	33 minLowest 12% above MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Norton
High school in town	Douglas High School	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	10.9Highest
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.