Compare towns
Norwell vs Pepperell vs Norfolk
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%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Pepperell | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361Lowest |
11,663 |
11,673Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Pepperell and Norfolk 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% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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±$25k 82% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Norfolk 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 |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
| Norwell and Norfolk 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 |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 21% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | North Middlesex | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Norwell High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.