What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

East Longmeadow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

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	East Longmeadow
People
Population	19,240Highest	16,425Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average	43.7±4.2Highest 9% above MA
	East Longmeadow 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%	22.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	East Longmeadow 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%	21.1%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	East Longmeadow 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	6.6%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA	$106,676±$11kLowest about the MA average
	Norton and East Longmeadow 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	$376,800±$17kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA	$1,337±$236Lowest 24% below MA
	Norton and East Longmeadow 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	$6,662Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±10.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	East Longmeadow and Norton 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%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 12% above MA	23 minLowest 22% below MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	15.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Norton and East Longmeadow 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	#148 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	East Longmeadow
High school in town	Norton High	East Longmeadow High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	9.6Lowest
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.