What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rockland has the most affordable homes ($473k 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	Rockland
People
Population	11,361Lowest	17,701Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average	40.7±3.3Highest about the MA average
	Rockland and Norwell 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%	20.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Norwell and Rockland 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%	32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Norwell and Rockland 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	$112,405±$12kLowest 8% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA	$472,900±$21kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA	$1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,487Lowest 8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±10.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Rockland 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%	6.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	76.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 21% above MA	33 minLowest 14% above MA
Work from home	27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%	14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#80 of 282 in MA	#175 of 282 in MA
School district	Norwell	Rockland
High school in town	Norwell High	Rockland Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.5Highest
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.