What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fitchburg has the most people working from home (10.3%).

Taunton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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	Fitchburg	Taunton
People
Population	41,798Lowest	60,433Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.3±2Lowest 9% below MA	38.9±1.3Highest about the MA average
	Taunton and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Taunton and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	15%±1.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Taunton and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,040±$5kLowest 30% below MA	$79,283±$7kHighest 24% below MA
	Taunton and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,400±$11kLowest 40% below MA	$422,800±$9kHighest 25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,222±$89Lowest 31% below MA	$1,324±$86Highest 25% below MA
	Taunton and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,456Highest 26% below MA	$4,344Lowest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.8%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Taunton and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.6%Highest MA: 10%	13%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	62.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	10.3%±2Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Fitchburg and Taunton 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	#249 of 282 in MA	#253 of 282 in MA
School district	Fitchburg · Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical	Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton
High school in town	Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical	Taunton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	16.6Highest
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.