Compare towns
Norwell vs Hamilton vs Pembroke
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).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($587k median).
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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361 |
7,600Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke 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% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Pembroke 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% |
44.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Pembroke 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±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$586,500±$28kLowest 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336 26% above MA |
$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Norwell 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 |
$6,585Lowest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Hamilton 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 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% |
21.2%±5.6Lowest 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 | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Hamilton-Wenham | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
11.8 |
12.3Highest |
| 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.