Compare towns
Marshfield vs Edgartown 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 renters (19.2% rent).
Edgartown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
Chelmsford has the most affordable homes ($594k median).
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 | Edgartown | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879 |
5,278Lowest |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
51.9±8.6Highest 30% above MA |
41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA |
| Edgartown and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
10%±3.6Lowest 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% |
29.7%±8.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Edgartown and Marshfield 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% |
56.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±3.2Lowest 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±$8k 21% above MA |
$125,236±$33kLowest 20% 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±$27k 21% above MA |
$1,199,300±$262kHighest 113% above MA |
$593,700±$17kLowest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$1,796±$470 about the MA average |
$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA |
| Chelmsford and Edgartown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 11% above MA |
$5,641Lowest 6% below MA |
$8,047Highest 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
12 minLowest 60% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.6%±15.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Edgartown 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 | #242 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Edgartown | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | None in town | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 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.