Compare towns
Pembroke vs Union vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k median).
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 | Union | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,382Highest |
2,663Lowest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Pembroke and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwell and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 81% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$188,699±$25kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $586,500±$28k 76% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,215±$336 57% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,585 111% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwell and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 |
U.S. 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.