Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Norton vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Norton has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Lunenburg | Norton | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267Highest |
108Lowest |
916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2 32% above U.S. |
53.8±6.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.5±12.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Norton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
13%±21.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±11.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±15.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±10.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dalton and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$65,625±$23k 19% below U.S. |
$81,429±$36kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Dalton and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$200,000±$32kHighest 40% below U.S. |
$191,400±$68k 42% below U.S. |
| Norton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172Highest 27% below U.S. |
— | $900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,769 11% below U.S. |
$3,561Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±18Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.