Compare towns
Norfolk vs Norwell vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Norfolk | Norwell | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673Highest |
11,361 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
| Norfolk and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
| Norwell and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,651 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
3.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Norwell | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | Norwell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.