What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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.

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

Measure	Norwell	Northbridge
People
Population	11,361Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northbridge 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%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge 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	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Northbridge 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%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 21% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#80 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Norwell	Northbridge
High school in town	Norwell High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.