What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the most affordable homes ($473k 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	Rockland	Norwell
People
Population	17,701Highest	11,361Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±3.3Highest about the MA average	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average
	Rockland and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Norwell and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Norwell and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,405±$12kLowest 8% above MA	$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$472,900±$21kLowest 16% below MA	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,487Lowest 8% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10.4Lowest 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 14% above MA	35 minHighest 21% above MA
Work from home	14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#175 of 282 in MA	#80 of 282 in MA
School district	Rockland	Norwell
High school in town	Rockland Senior High	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.