Compare towns
Marshfield vs Needham vs Chelmsford
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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Chelmsford has the most affordable homes ($594k 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.
| Measure | Marshfield | Needham | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Lowest |
32,459 |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA |
| Marshfield and Needham 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% |
21.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Chelmsford 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$140,629±$8k 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$593,700±$17kLowest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,062±$151 17% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,047 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #54 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Needham | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Needham High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.9 |
14.0Highest |
| 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.