What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Lowell
People
Population	19,240Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA
Kids under 18	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA	$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA
	Norton and Lowell 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	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell 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%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 12% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#173 of 282 in MA	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	Lowell
High school in town	Norton High	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	14.8Highest
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.