What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holliston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

Marshfield has the most renters (19.2% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holliston	Marshfield
People
Population	15,094Lowest	25,879Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.2±1.9Lowest 13% above MA	45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA
	Marshfield and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holliston and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marshfield and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Marshfield and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$159,817±$9kHighest 54% above MA	$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$20kLowest 16% above MA	$680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA
	Marshfield and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$225Highest 3% above MA	$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average
	Holliston and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,397Highest 57% above MA	$6,656Lowest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marshfield and Holliston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%	8.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 18% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	31.1%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6%	24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holliston and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 282 in MA	#54 of 282 in MA
School district	Holliston	Marshfield
High school in town	Holliston High	Marshfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.