Norton vs Taunton
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $75k more for a 4BR in Norton, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $75k for one tier of schooling.
On tax, look past the rate: Taunton works out roughly $2,100 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Norton if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Norton numbers →Choose Taunton if you want the lower price, or you want a train.
All Taunton numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsNorton ahead on 4 of 8
| Norton | Taunton | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | mixed schoolsT4 |
| MCAS achievement | 37th | 17th |
| Student growth | 45th | 46th |
| Graduation rate | 93% | 89% |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $20,978 | $19,590 |
| Schools in the district | 4 | 10 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 2 | 0 |
What a home costsTaunton ahead on 8 of 8
| Norton | Taunton | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $650kT2 | $575kT1 |
| 3BR townhouse | $500k | $450k |
| 2BR condo | $370k | $335k |
| 3BR home | $605k | $541k |
| 5+ BR home | $896k | $649k |
| 3BR rent | $3,293/mo | $2,803/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $179k | $155k |
| 10-year price growth | 6.1% a year | 7.1% a year |
What you pay the townTaunton ahead on 2 of 4
| Norton | Taunton | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $13.03T3 | $11.14T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$8,500 | ≈$6,400 |
| Town spending per resident | $4,064 | $4,605 |
| Share of budget on schools | 48% | 46% |
Getting to workTaunton ahead on 1 of 3
| Norton | Taunton | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 65 minT4 | 69 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~74 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 28 mi | 31 mi |
Before kindergartenTaunton ahead on 3 of 4
| Norton | Taunton | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 15 | 68 |
| Child care places | 639 | 1,466 |
| Centers vs family programs | 10 centers | 13 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 99 | 171 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Norton | Taunton | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,202 | 59,408 |
| Energy | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Compact center | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Family amenities | 2/10 | 2/10 |
| Culture | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Gathering places | 6/10 | 7/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
