Compare towns
Rockland vs Danvers vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rockland has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Norwell has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Rockland | Danvers | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,701 |
28,098Highest |
11,361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3 about the MA average |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,405±$12kLowest 8% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,900±$21kLowest 16% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Norwell and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,487Lowest 8% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell and Danvers 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 | #175 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Norwell |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
12.8Highest |
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.