Compare towns
Norton vs Bellingham vs Mansfield
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%).
Bellingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k 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 | Bellingham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240 |
17,410Lowest |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
| Mansfield and Norton 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%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield 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% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Norton and Mansfield 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% |
40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Bellingham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27k 11% below MA |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
$1,836±$196 4% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Norton and Bellingham 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 |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 12% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield and Norton 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 | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Bellingham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Norton High | Bellingham High School | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.4Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.