Compare towns
Marshfield vs Lancaster vs Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock
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 expensive homes ($680k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock has the oldest population (median age 57.6).
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.
| Measure | Marshfield | Lancaster | Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
8,606 |
4,540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
57.6±3.6Highest 44% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
9.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marshfield and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$119,310±$24kLowest 15% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$554,000±$62k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,409±$94Lowest 20% below MA |
| Lancaster and Marshfield 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,373Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±26.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Marshfield 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.6%±11.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marshfield | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — |
| 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.