Compare towns
Pembroke vs Devens vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Pembroke | Devens | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,382Highest |
1,723Lowest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.3 14% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Devens and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Pembroke and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,285±$17kLowest 41% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
| Devens and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
$556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,215±$336 26% above MA |
| Pembroke and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,585 10% above MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Devens 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 | #82 of 282 in MA | — | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pembroke | — | Norwell |
| High school in town | Pembroke High School | — | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.