Compare towns
Norwell vs Hingham 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 the most kids (28.5% under 18).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($680k 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 | Hingham | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361Lowest |
24,283 |
25,879Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
| Hingham and Marshfield 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% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
| Norwell and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35k 54% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336 26% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
| Hingham 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 |
$6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Lowest 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 21% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Hingham | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Hingham High | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.9Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| 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.