What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwell	Harvard
People
Population	11,361Highest	6,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA
	Harvard and Norwell 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%	21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Norwell and Harvard 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%	16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Harvard and Norwell 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%	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Norwell and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$188,699±$25kLowest 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	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA	$833,600±$54kLowest 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	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.1%±24.5Lowest 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	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	4.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 21% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#80 of 282 in MA	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	Norwell	Harvard
High school in town	Norwell High	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.