Compare towns
Harvard vs Marshfield vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Marshfield has the most renters (19.2% rent).
Norfolk has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
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 | Harvard | Marshfield | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
25,879Highest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Marshfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marshfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$200,720±$22k 93% above MA |
| Harvard and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
| Norfolk and Marshfield 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 |
$6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Marshfield | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Marshfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.