What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tyngsborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k median).

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	Tyngsborough	Norton
People
Population	12,550Lowest	19,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±2.9Lowest about the MA average	39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average
	Norton and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.6%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Tyngsborough and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Norton and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,348±$18kHighest 24% above MA	$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA
	Tyngsborough and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,500±$34kHighest about the MA average	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA
	Tyngsborough and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,986±$404Highest 13% above MA	$1,911±$375Lowest 8% above MA
	Tyngsborough and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,426Highest 24% above MA	$5,929Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.2%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Tyngsborough and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA	1982Lowest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	18.6%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Norton and Tyngsborough 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	#174 of 282 in MA	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough	Norton
High school in town	Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	10.9Lowest
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.