Compare towns
Norwell vs Upton vs Marshfield vs Hanover
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%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Marshfield has the most renters (19.2% rent).
Hanover has the shortest commute (32 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 | Upton | Marshfield | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,361 |
8,189Lowest |
25,879Highest |
14,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
| Upton and Marshfield 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Hanover 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%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanover 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Hanover 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
$755,400±$39k 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
| Norwell and Hanover 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,342 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 21% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell and Marshfield 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Marshfield | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Blackstone Valley | Marshfield High | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.2 |
11.0 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.