Compare towns
Wenham vs Ayer vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Ayer | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
8,645 |
11,361Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average |
39.2±1.4Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Norwell and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
| Wenham and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$865,700±$35k 54% above MA |
| Wenham and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Wenham and Norwell 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Ayer Shirley School District | Norwell |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.