Compare towns
Marshfield vs Ogunquit vs Stoneham vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Chelmsford has the most affordable homes ($594k 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 | Ogunquit | Stoneham | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879 |
1,379Lowest |
23,355 |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelmsford and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chelmsford and Stoneham 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±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford 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±$27k 104% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17kLowest 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest 25% above U.S. |
— | $2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Stoneham 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. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% 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% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Chelmsford 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #54 of 282 in MA | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | — | Stoneham | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | — | Stoneham High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.