Compare towns

Marshfield vs Ogunquit 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%).
Norwell has the highest household income ($189k).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldOgunquitNorwell
People
Population
25,879Highest
1,379Lowest
11,361
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
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.
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%
28.5%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.2%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
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%
69.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ogunquit 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
56% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% 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.
$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.
—
$2,215±$336Highest
57% above U.S.
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
113% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% 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%
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%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
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.
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
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
24.8%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
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 — #80 of 282 in MA
School district Marshfield — Norwell
High school in town Marshfield High — Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0Lowest
—
11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.