What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Longmeadow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

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	East Longmeadow	Norton
People
Population	16,425Lowest	19,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4.2Highest 9% above MA	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average
	East Longmeadow and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	East Longmeadow and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	East Longmeadow and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,676±$11kLowest about the MA average	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA
	Norton and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,800±$17kLowest 33% below MA	$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,337±$236Lowest 24% below MA	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
	Norton and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,662Highest 11% above MA	$5,929Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±10.2Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	East Longmeadow and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	4.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 22% below MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	15.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Norton and East Longmeadow 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	#148 of 282 in MA	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	East Longmeadow	Norton
High school in town	East Longmeadow High	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	10.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.