Compare towns
Norton vs Lowell vs Mansfield
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 homeowners (83.8%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
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 | Lowell | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240Lowest |
118,368Highest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
| Mansfield 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% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
| Mansfield and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27k 11% below MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,929 about the MA average |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Lowell | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Norton High | Lowell High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.