What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norton	Douglas
People
Population	19,240Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
Kids under 18	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas 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%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Norton and Douglas 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%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA
	Norton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA
	Norton and Douglas 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	$6,338Highest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norton and Douglas 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%	4.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8% MA: 62.5%	83.8% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 18 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 12% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	Douglas
High school in town	Norton High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.