What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most expensive homes ($680k median).

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.

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

Measure	Marshfield	Chelmsford
People
Population	25,879Lowest	36,446Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA	41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA
	Marshfield and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.4Lowest 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%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Marshfield and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Chelmsford and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above 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	$593,700±$17kLowest 6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average	$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,656Lowest 11% above MA	$8,047Highest 34% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marshfield and Chelmsford 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	22.8%±2.3Lowest 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	#79 of 282 in MA
School district	Marshfield	Chelmsford
High school in town	Marshfield High	Chelmsford High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	14.0Highest
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.