Compare towns
Norton vs Worcester vs Taunton
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 people working from home (19%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Taunton has the most kids (21.6% 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 | Worcester | Taunton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,240Lowest |
207,055Highest |
60,433 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
38.9±1.3 about the MA average |
| Norton and Taunton 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Taunton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Norton and Taunton 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$79,283±$7k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$422,800±$9k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,324±$86Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,929Highest about the MA average |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,344Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Taunton and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
13% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
62.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 12% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #173 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #253 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton |
| High school in town | Norton High | South High Community | Taunton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
14.6 |
16.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.