What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most affordable homes ($743k median).

Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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	Groton	Norwell
People
Population	11,390Highest	11,361Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±2.7Highest 4% above MA	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average
	Groton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.3%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Norwell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Groton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Groton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA	$188,699±$25kLowest 82% above MA
	Groton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$743,400±$46kLowest 32% above MA	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8%	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	35 minHighest 21% above MA
Work from home	27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Groton and Norwell 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	#39 of 282 in MA	#80 of 282 in MA
School district	Groton-Dunstable	Norwell
High school in town	Groton Dunstable Regional	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.7Highest	11.7Lowest
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.