Compare towns

Marshfield vs Mendon vs Scituate

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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($848k 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.

MeasureMarshfieldMendonScituate
People
Population
25,879Highest
6,325Lowest
19,365
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.6
15% above MA
44.1±4.4Lowest
10% above MA
47.1±3.1Highest
18% above MA
Scituate and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.8%±6.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
Mendon and Scituate 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%
14.7%±3.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.2%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Scituate 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%
MA: 47.3%
46.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
66.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.8%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Mendon and Scituate 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
$132,256±$33k
27% above MA
$136,732±$16kHighest
32% above MA
Scituate and Mendon 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
$616,000±$37kLowest
10% above MA
$847,600±$25kHighest
51% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,772±$123
about the MA average
$1,840±$196Highest
4% above MA
$1,609±$311Lowest
9% below MA
Mendon and Marshfield 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
$7,213
20% above MA
$8,807Highest
47% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.1%±10.1
MA: 51.8%
78.7%±26Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.7%±10.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Mendon 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%
7.1%
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.9%
MA: 62.5%
87.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1985Highest
21 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
19% above MA
30 minLowest
4% above MA
38 minHighest
31% above MA
Work from home
24.8%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
15.1%±5.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
28%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Scituate 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 #210 of 282 in MA #43 of 282 in MA
School district Marshfield Mendon-Upton Scituate
High school in town Marshfield High None in town Scituate High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0Lowest
—
11.3Highest
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.