What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).

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	Bolton
People
Population	19,240Highest	5,737Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average	41.2±1.7Highest 3% above MA
	Bolton 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%	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Norton and Bolton 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%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA	$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA	$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA	$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA
	Norton and Bolton 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%	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norton and Bolton 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%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 18 yrs newer than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 12% above MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#173 of 282 in MA	#28 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	Nashoba
High school in town	Norton High	Nashoba Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.0Highest
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.