Compare towns
Marshfield vs Danielson vs Plainfield vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Danielson has the most renters (47% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Norwell has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Danielson | Plainfield | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
4,209Lowest |
15,141 |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
39.2±1.4 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marshfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
15% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Plainfield 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 56% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$188,699±$25kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 104% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 25% above U.S. |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Norwell and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 113% above U.S. |
$4,009Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwell 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 | #54 of 282 in MA | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | — | Plainfield School District | Norwell |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | — | Plainfield High School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.