Compare towns
Marshfield vs Ogunquit vs Burlington vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($680k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Burlington has the most renters (25.8% rent).
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Burlington | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879 |
1,379Lowest |
26,274Highest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Burlington and Ogunquit 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 56% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14k 81% above U.S. |
$188,699±$25kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27kLowest 104% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
$865,700±$35k 160% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest 25% above U.S. |
— | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,215±$336 57% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 113% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,165 98% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Norwell 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 | — | #83 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | — | Burlington | Norwell |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | — | Burlington High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 11.3 |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.