Compare towns
Pembroke vs Webster 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 oldest population (median age 45.5).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Webster | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,382Highest |
12,228 |
11,361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
39.2±1.4 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$17k 41% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% 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 |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | #271 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.