Compare towns
Pembroke vs Oakham vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pembroke has the shortest commute (35 min average).
Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k 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.
| Measure | Pembroke | Oakham | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,382Highest |
1,639Lowest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.3 14% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Pembroke 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% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 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±$17k 41% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | Quabbin | Norwell |
| High school in town | Pembroke High School | None in town | 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.