Compare towns
Norton vs Windsor vs Pepperell
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 youngest population (median age 39.6).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
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.
| Measure | Norton | Windsor | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240Highest |
1,065Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Windsor and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest 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% |
18.6%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Pepperell 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% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA |
$115,563±$10kLowest 11% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 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 |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 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 | $5,929 about the MA average |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 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% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 12% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | — | #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 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.