Compare towns
Marshfield vs Norwell vs Webster
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).
Norwell has the highest household income ($189k).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Norwell | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
11,361Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Webster 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% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$8k 21% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Norwell and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Norwell | Webster |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Norwell High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.