Compare towns
Norwell vs Hamilton vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Hamilton has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Hamilton | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361 |
7,600Lowest |
25,879Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
| Marshfield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton 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 MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Lowest 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 | $188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
| 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell and Hamilton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Hamilton-Wenham | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.8Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.