Compare towns
Marshfield vs Salem vs Norwell
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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Norwell has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Salem | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879 |
44,795Highest |
11,361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Norwell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 11% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Salem | Norwell |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Salem High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
9.8Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.