What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($587k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pembroke	Norwell
People
Population	18,382Highest	11,361Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Pembroke and Norwell 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	$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$586,500±$28kLowest 4% above MA	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA	$2,215±$336Lowest 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	$6,585Lowest 10% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 19% above MA	35 minHighest 21% above MA
Work from home	21.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Norwell and Pembroke 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

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.