Compare towns
Marshfield vs Reading vs Easton
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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Easton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Reading | Easton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
25,612 |
25,316Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.8±2Lowest 7% above MA |
| Marshfield and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.7%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Easton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$124,271±$7kLowest 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$581,200±$24kLowest 3% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,824±$161 4% above MA |
| Reading and Easton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,860 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±13.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Easton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Marshfield 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #95 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Reading | Easton · Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Reading Memorial High | Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.1 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.