Compare towns
Norton vs Andover vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Bellingham has the most affordable homes ($451k median).
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 | Norton | Andover | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240 |
36,652Highest |
17,410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27k 11% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375 8% above MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,836±$196Lowest 4% 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 | $5,929 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #173 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Norton High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.