Compare towns
Marshfield vs Needham vs Upton vs Easton
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Easton has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Upton | Easton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879 |
32,459Highest |
8,189Lowest |
25,316 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.8±2Lowest 7% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.7%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$124,271±$7kLowest 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$581,200±$24k 3% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,824±$161 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,860 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±13.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Easton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #54 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #95 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Easton · Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.9 |
11.2 |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.