What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).

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	Everett	Norton
People
Population	50,045Highest	19,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA	39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA	$1,911±$375Lowest 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	$4,880Lowest 19% below MA	$5,929Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Everett and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 20% above MA	33 minLowest 12% above MA
Work from home	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#264 of 282 in MA	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Everett	Norton
High school in town	Everett High	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	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.