Compare towns
Brookline vs Marshfield vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
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 | Brookline | Marshfield | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
470Lowest |
1,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
42.4±8.8Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±9.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$20k 5% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$178,300±$31kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,125±$79 20% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$3,269Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±62.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.