Compare towns
Norwell vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Reading | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361Lowest |
25,612 |
25,879Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
| Marshfield and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Marshfield 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
| Norwell and Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
| Norwell and Reading 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Reading | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Reading Memorial High | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.1Highest |
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.