What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).

Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).

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	Wakefield
People
Population	11,361Lowest	27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average	42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Wakefield 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%	59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wakefield 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	$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA	$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA	$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA
	Norwell and Wakefield 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	$7,779Lowest 30% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%	43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Wakefield 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%	4.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 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%	24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Norwell and Wakefield 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	#179 of 282 in MA
School district	Norwell	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town	Norwell High	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.