Compare towns
Norwell vs Hingham vs Topsfield
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).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361 |
24,283Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Norwell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
$178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield 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±$35k 54% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$853,400±$40kLowest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336 26% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Hingham 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 21% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Hingham | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.