Compare towns
Marshfield vs Killingly vs Chelmsford 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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Chelmsford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Killingly | Chelmsford | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879 |
17,867 |
36,446Highest |
11,361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
41.6±1.9 7% above U.S. |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marshfield and Killingly 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly 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 56% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8k 74% above U.S. |
$188,699±$25kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 104% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$593,700±$17k 78% above U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 25% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,062±$151 46% above U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Norwell and Chelmsford 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,047 158% 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% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #79 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chelmsford | Norwell |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Killingly High School | Chelmsford High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.1 |
14.0Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.