Compare towns
Marshfield vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($680k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Scituate has the most homeowners (87.8%).
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 | Needham | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879 |
32,459Highest |
19,365Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$847,600±$25k 51% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,807 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Scituate 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | — | Scituate |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | — | 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.