Compare towns
Norwell vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Ware | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361 |
10,048Lowest |
25,879Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
| Marshfield and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,772±$123 about the MA average |
| Norwell and Marshfield 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,656 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Lowest 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% 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 |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Ware | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.1 |
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.