What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Lowell	Norton
People
Population	118,368Highest	19,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA	39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA	$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
	Norton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA	$5,929Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#255 of 282 in MA	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Lowell	Norton
High school in town	Lowell High	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	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.