Compare towns
Marshfield vs Bourne vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most expensive homes ($680k median).
Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).
Chelmsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Marshfield | Bourne | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879 |
20,323Lowest |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelmsford and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% MA: 47.3% |
46%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$140,629±$8kHighest 35% above MA |
| Chelmsford and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA |
$575,600±$28kLowest about the MA average |
$593,700±$17k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 11% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$8,047Highest 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and Chelmsford 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 | #54 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
9.8Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.