What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.8%).

Ipswich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	Ipswich
People
Population	25,879Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.6Lowest 15% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
	Ipswich and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Marshfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ipswich 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%	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ipswich 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	$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA
	Ipswich 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±$27kLowest 21% above MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
	Ipswich and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,772±$123Highest about the MA average	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
	Marshfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,656Lowest 11% above MA	$7,960Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marshfield and Ipswich 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%	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Marshfield and Ipswich 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	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Marshfield	Ipswich
High school in town	Marshfield High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	9.0Lowest
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.