What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bellingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

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	Norton	Bellingham
People
Population	19,240Highest	17,410Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average	38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA
	Norton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Bellingham and Norton 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%	14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Norton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA	$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA
	Bellingham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA	$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA	$1,836±$196Lowest 4% above MA
	Norton and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,929Highest about the MA average	$5,030Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±8.9Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest 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
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 12% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Norton and Bellingham 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	#173 of 282 in MA	#232 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	Bellingham
High school in town	Norton High	Bellingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.4Highest
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.