Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Norwell is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns
Norwell differs from Massachusetts on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 02061. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Norwell
Against towns with similar incomes, Norwell’s lead shrinks
Norwell is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns, but 58% of the 1,155 towns with similar household incomes ($142K–$236K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Norwell keeps up with checkups
It beats Massachusetts on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (78.3% vs 69.8%) and cholesterol checks (92.2% vs 89.7%). Checkups ↓
Norwell is an active town
Only 15.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 21.7% across Massachusetts. The town has 42 miles of trails across 29 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Fewer Norwell adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Massachusetts. 1 in 15 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Massachusetts figure falls outside Norwell’s likely range; Norwell’s figures come from ZIP code 02061, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Norwell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norwell is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns, #57 of 279 in Massachusetts. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 97% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 84%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Norwell’s median household income is $188,699; among the 1,155 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($142K–$236K), it’s healthier than 58%, about where its income would put it.
Most Massachusetts towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Norwell is healthier than 80% of graded towns, against 96% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of Norwell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
42 miles of trails across 29 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.2% of Norwell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Out of every 100 Norwell adults…
Norwell runs below MA on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Norwell
No hospital or community health center in Norwell itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Norwell; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Norwell adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Norwell does better than Massachusetts.
3 in 10 Norwell adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Norwell and the towns around it
Norwell’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 7 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwell | A+ | 26.3% | 8.3% | 8.8% | ZIP 02061 |
| Hanover | A | 27.4% | 8.9% | 10.2% | ZIP 02339 |
| Marshfield | A | 28.1% | 9.7% | 10.2% | ZIP 02050 |
| North Pembroke | — | — | — | — | |
| Pembroke | A | 28% | 8.7% | 10.7% | ZIP 02359 |
| Marshfield Hills | — | — | — | — | |
| Scituate | A+ | 26.8% | 9.1% | 8.6% | ZIP codes |
| Hingham | A+ | 25% | 8.6% | 7.3% | ZIP 02043 |
North Pembroke and Marshfield Hills: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Norwell adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Norwell
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Norwell is better than Massachusetts on 15 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Norwell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Norwell | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.8%10–14.1 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.7%9.3–12.3 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13–16.8 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.3%22.1–30.5 | 27.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.3%7.1–9.5 | 9.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.9%25.9–31.8 | 30.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%33.8–40.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.2%22.5–27.8 | 25.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.6 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9.1–10.9 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.6–5.9 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.9%4–5.9 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.2–2.9 | 3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.1%5.1–7.6 | 11.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.8%7–11.2 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.6%12.9–18.8 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.6%15.8–21.2 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.7%27.2–35 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 2.8%2.1–3.7 | 5.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.3%79.5–84.7 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 78.3%76.2–80.7 | 69.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.2%90.8–93.4 | 89.7% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.2%72.6–78.9 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.2%69–75.9 | 68.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 86%82.1–90 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.2%20.3–26 | 23.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.5%26.9–34.4 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.8%17–23 | 23.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.7%5.2–8.5 | 12.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7%5.6–8.6 | 11.1% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.4%3.6–5.3 | 7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.6%3.8–5.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.2%5.5–9.4 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.2%21–27.7 | 27.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.1%7.7–10.8 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11%9.5–12.8 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 2.8%2.4–3.2 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.3%4.6–6.3 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%1.9–2.7 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Massachusetts figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Norwell
Is Norwell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norwell is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #57 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 58%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Norwell?
CDC estimates 26.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.1% and 30.5%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Norwell?
South Shore Hospital in South Weymouth, 7.0 miles in a straight line from Norwell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Norwell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 2.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 2.1–3.7%), against 5.2% across Massachusetts.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Norwell more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Norwell.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Massachusetts figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.