Compare towns
Wenham vs Mansfield 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).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Mansfield | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
23,931Highest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
39.2±1.4 about the MA average |
| Mansfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Norwell and Mansfield 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% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
$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 |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above 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 | — | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Norwell and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,226Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 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% |
20%±3.4Lowest 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Mansfield | Norwell |
| High school in town | None in town | Mansfield High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.