Compare towns
Norton vs Sutton vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Sutton | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240Highest |
9,452Lowest |
17,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bellingham and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$125,307±$10k 21% above MA |
| Sutton and Bellingham 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bellingham and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Sutton | Bellingham |
| High school in town | Norton High | Sutton High School | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.4 |
| 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.