Norwell Real Estate
Norwell is a small town on the South Shore located east of Route 3 and approximately 20 miles south of Boston. Like many South Shore towns, it offers picturesque waterfront properties and has experienced a building boom accompanied by rising real estate values. At 21.2 square miles and just 10,000 residents, however, Norwell is smaller and more rural than its neighbors. Its southern border is formed by the North River, offering superb kayaking and canoeing opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Open spaces are also in abundance, including Stetson Meadows and Norris Reservation on the river and Jacobs Pond Conservation Area in the northwest corner of town. Families tout Norwell’s top-notch public school system as a significant draw. In 2010, Norwell’s South Shore Charter Public School was named America’s Greenest School. More recently, the town invested more than $3 million to open the Clipper Community Complex on the Norwell High School campus. The facility features an Olympic-sized track and two lighted artificial-turf fields, among other state-of-the-art track and field amenities. Read more about Norwell real estate.
Norwell Homes & Condos For Sale
More About Norwell Real Estate
Norwell Location
Approximately 30-38% of Norwell is wetlands with many protected areas and open spaces. Much of Norwell’s eastern border lies along the North River where Norwell once flourished as a major shipbuilding center. The town is bordered by Hingham on the north; Pembroke to the south; Hanover and Rockland to the west, and Marshfield and Scituate on the east and northeast. Route 3 passes through Norwell twice across the southern and western corners of the town while Route 123 is the major route through town. The nearest rail service is the Greenbush line of the MBTA’s commuter rail in neighboring Scituate.
Within the town, Norwell started its “pathways” initiative in 2015 to create mixed use pedestrian and cycling paths to connect the high school, middle school, and town center. The goal is to allow residents and students to traverse Norwell’s busiest roads more safely and efficiently.
Norwell Recreation
In addition to hiking and water sports along many of Norwell’s preservation and wildlife areas, the town boasts a thriving arts community. The James Library & Center for the Arts features a 90-seat concert hall, an art gallery and free lending library. The Company Theatre is an acclaimed troupe that has entertained audiences since 1979 and is a repeat recipient of the Moss Hart Award for outstanding New England productions. The Norwell Village area Historic District lies in the center of town paying homage to Norwell’s roots as a shipbuilding center in the early 19th century. Norwell is also known for innovative health facilities concentrated around town center.
Norwell History
Norwell was originally part of Scituate, settled in 1634 and later incorporated in 1849. The town changed its name to Norwell in the 1880s in honor of Henry Norwell, a dry goods merchant who helped fund the maintenance of many town roads. Norwell dominated the shipbuilding industry in the early 19th century with some of the finest frigates, schooners, whalers, and merchant vessels crafted along the North River.
Norwell claims an eclectic mix of luminaries who were either raised or now live in Norwell, including Animal Planet host Jeff Corwin, blues singer Susan Tedeschi, and actress Jennifer Coolidge of “American Pie” fame.
