What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).

Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norton	Pepperell
People
Population	19,240Highest	11,663Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9% MA: +7.4%	+0.9% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average	42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA
	Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell 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%	18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pepperell 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA	$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA
	Norton and Pepperell 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	$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA
	Norton and Pepperell 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	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,929Lowest about the MA average	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norton and Pepperell 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%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 12% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Norton and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	North Middlesex
High school in town	Norton High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	—
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.