Compare towns
Norwell vs Exeter vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwell has the highest household income ($189k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Norwell | Exeter | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361Lowest |
16,151 |
25,879Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.9±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Marshfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,699±$25kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$125,986±$8k 56% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$680,300±$27k 104% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,772±$123Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Norwell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,656Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwell and Marshfield 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Exeter High School | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.