Compare towns
Norton vs Maynard vs Bellingham
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%).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Bellingham has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
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 | Maynard | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240Highest |
10,712Lowest |
17,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bellingham and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard 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% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Bellingham 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Maynard and Norton 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 |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$196 4% above MA |
| Norton and Bellingham 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | — | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Norton High | — | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| 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.