Compare towns

Marshfield vs Putnam vs Thompson

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 expensive homes ($680k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldPutnamThompson
People
Population
25,879Highest
9,292Lowest
9,337
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
45.9±2.6
18% above U.S.
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Marshfield and Putnam 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%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Marshfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,986±$8kHighest
56% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$680,300±$27kHighest
104% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,772±$123Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,656Highest
113% above U.S.
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.1%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Marshfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
24.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #54 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT #130 of 149 in CT
School district Marshfield Putnam School District Thompson School District
High school in town Marshfield High Putnam High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0Highest
9.5
7.9Lowest
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.