Compare towns
Harvard vs Marshfield vs Scituate
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 affordable homes ($680k median).
Scituate has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
25,879Highest |
19,365 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA |
45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
| Scituate and Marshfield 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% |
22.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Scituate and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Scituate and Marshfield 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 |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
| Scituate and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,772±$123Highest about the MA average |
$1,609±$311 9% below MA |
| Marshfield and Scituate 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 |
$8,807 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3Lowest 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Marshfield | Scituate |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Marshfield High | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.0Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.