Compare towns
Norton vs Dedham vs Tyngsborough
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 affordable homes ($501k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Tyngsborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Dedham | Tyngsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240 |
25,237Highest |
12,550Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Tyngsborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$129,348±$18kHighest 24% above MA |
| Tyngsborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$552,500±$34k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375Lowest 8% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,986±$404 13% above MA |
| Dedham and Tyngsborough 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,426 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
72.2%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyngsborough and Dedham 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
6.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 12% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.6%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #174 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Dedham | Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough |
| High school in town | Norton High | Dedham High | Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.4Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.