What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most homeowners (80.8%).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marshfield	Salem
People
Population	25,879Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Marshfield and Salem 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%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Marshfield and Salem 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 MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,986±$8kHighest 21% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
	Salem and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,656Highest 11% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marshfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Marshfield and Salem 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Marshfield	Salem
High school in town	Marshfield High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.