What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k median).

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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	Norton	Andover
People
Population	19,240Lowest	36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA
Kids under 18	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Norton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	75.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,911±$375Lowest 8% above MA	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA
	Andover and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,929Lowest about the MA average	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8%	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 12% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#173 of 282 in MA	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Norton High	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.8Highest
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.