Compare towns
Hamilton vs Norwell vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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.
| Measure | Hamilton | Norwell | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
11,361Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
| Harvard and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Harvard and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
| Norwell and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Norwell and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Norwell | Harvard |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Norwell High | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.7 |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 12 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.