What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).

North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marshfield	North Reading
People
Population	25,879Highest	15,765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Marshfield and North Reading 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%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Marshfield and North Reading 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%	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading 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±$8kLowest 21% above MA	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	North Reading 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±$27kLowest 21% above MA	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
	North Reading and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,656Lowest 11% above MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.1%±10.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading 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	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Marshfield	North Reading
High school in town	Marshfield High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.