Compare towns
Marshfield vs Pepperell vs Chelmsford
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 most expensive homes ($680k median).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Chelmsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Pepperell | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879 |
11,663Lowest |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA |
| Marshfield and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelmsford and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Pepperell 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% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Chelmsford 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 |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$140,629±$8kHighest 35% above MA |
| 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±$27kHighest 21% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$593,700±$17k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$8,047Highest 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and Chelmsford 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | North Middlesex | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | None in town | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| 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.