What stands out worked out from the figures below

Longmeadow has the most affordable homes ($454k median).

Marshfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Longmeadow	Marshfield
People
Population	15,696Lowest	25,879Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.7Lowest 12% above MA	45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA
	Marshfield and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.8%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Longmeadow and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Longmeadow and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Longmeadow and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$149,601±$24kHighest 44% above MA	$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA
	Longmeadow and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$454,100±$20kLowest 19% below MA	$680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,682±$423Lowest 5% below MA	$1,772±$123Highest about the MA average
	Marshfield and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,236Highest 54% above MA	$6,656Lowest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marshfield and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest MA: 10%	8.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 15% below MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	24.7%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marshfield and Longmeadow 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	#51 of 282 in MA	#54 of 282 in MA
School district	Longmeadow	Marshfield
High school in town	Longmeadow High	Marshfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.