What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norton has the most people working from home (19%).

Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

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	Dracut
People
Population	19,240Lowest	32,574Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average	41.7±2Highest 4% above MA
	Dracut 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%	21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dracut and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dracut and Norton 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%	36.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA	$114,036±$10kLowest 10% above MA
	Norton and Dracut 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	$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA
	Norton and Dracut 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	$1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA
	Norton and Dracut 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	$5,375Lowest 10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dracut 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%	7.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 12% above MA	30 minLowest 4% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#173 of 282 in MA	#201 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	Dracut
High school in town	Norton High	Dracut Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.9Highest
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.