What is it like to live in Norwell?

Although located almost entirely east of Route 3, the town of Norwell offers picturesque waterfront property.

In Norwell, there are waterfront properties on the North River. Joanne Rathe/ Globe Staff

February 14, 2017

3 minutes to read

Although located almost entirely east of Route 3, the town of Norwell does not border Massachusetts Bay like some of its neighboring Plymouth County towns (Hingham, Scituate, and Marshfield), but it still offers picturesque waterfront property.

Norwell’s southern border is formed by the North River, and recreation enthusiasts love to kayak and canoe on its waters. The town was once home to a major shipbuilding industry, but now open space abounds, including Stetson Meadows and Norris Reservation on the river and Jacobs Pond Conservation Area in the northwest corner of town, near the South Shore Natural Science Center.

Arts and culture are alive and well in this town, which was once known as South Scituate.

Housed in a landmark 1874 Victorian building, the nonprofit James Library & Center for the Arts features a 90-seat concert hall, a free lending library, and an art gallery featuring new exhibits each month. In the 19th century, the building housed the First Parish Church library and was subsequently the home to Norwell’s public library until 1973. The Company Theatre has entertained local audiences since 1979 and is a three-time recipient of the Moss Hart Award, which recognizes outstanding New England productions.

An eclectic mix of people with star power were raised in Norwell, including blues singer Susan Tedeschi; producer, environmental activist, and Animal Planet host Jeff Corwin; and actress Jennifer Coolidge (“American Pie’’ and “2 Broke Girls’’).

Like a number of South Shore towns, Norwell has been a big attraction for home buyers. The town has enjoyed a building boom and rising real estate values; however, it has had some testy run-ins over affordable-housing. Selectmen have complained that “Norwell has been under siege by 40B developers’’ who have been given power by the state to sidestep local zoning laws and construct dense projects.

Despite this, Norwell’s reputation as a quiet bedroom community continues today.

BY THE NUMBERS

Number of Division II state championships the Norwell High School girls’ lacrosse team has won

$225

Cost of the Norwell Farms winter share, which includes storage crops like onions, potatoes, beets, and winter squash and lasts six weeks, beginning in late October). Its farm-to-table event, an Evening at Norwell Farms, takes place Oct. 3 (it’s sold out).

464 tons

The displacement of the Mount Vernon, a clipper ship built in 1812 at Norwell’s Wanton Shipyard, then the North River’s largest. In 1801, a record 30 ships were built on the river.

$3.5 million

Cost of the recently opened Clipper Community Complex on the Norwell High School campus. It features two lighted artificial-turf fields and an Olympic-sized track. Town Meeting voted to use $2.75 million in Community Preservation Act funds to help pay for the work.

PROS & CONS

Pro

The schools

The Norwell public school system is top-notch. The town also is home to one of the state’s oldest charter schools: South Shore Charter Public School. Founded in the coastal town of Hull in 1995, it was relocated to its Norwell campus in 2004. It was named America’s Greenest School in 2010.

Con

The commute

While it may seem like there are several viable options (the Greenbush and Plymouth commuter-rail lines and routes 3 and 3A among them), the ride into Boston can be tough.

Pro

Downtown redevelopment

The Planning Department is contemplating a strategy to revitalize the town center, connecting the commercial center to neighborhoods throughout Norwell. Undoubtedly, the effort will provide an economic boost.

Con

Diversity

Norwell is 95.3 percent white. Asian households make up 1.7 percent. Hispanic? 1.2. African-American? 0.6.