Compare towns
Norton vs Needham vs Tyngsborough
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 affordable homes ($501k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Tyngsborough has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Needham | Tyngsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240 |
32,459Highest |
12,550Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Tyngsborough 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$129,348±$18k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$552,500±$34k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375Lowest 8% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,986±$404 13% above MA |
| Needham and Tyngsborough 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,426 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
72.2%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyngsborough and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 12% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.6%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #173 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #174 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Needham | Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough |
| High school in town | Norton High | Needham High | Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.