Compare towns
Marshfield vs Scituate vs Wellfleet
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 affordable homes ($680k median).
Scituate has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
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 | Scituate | Wellfleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
19,365 |
4,404Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Lowest 15% above MA |
47.1±3.1 18% above MA |
58.4±4.1Highest 46% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Scituate and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Scituate and Marshfield 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 |
$136,732±$16kHighest 32% above MA |
$117,938±$27kLowest 13% above MA |
| Scituate 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±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
$847,600±$25k 51% above MA |
$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Highest about the MA average |
$1,609±$311 9% below MA |
$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
| Marshfield and Scituate 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 |
$8,807Highest 47% above MA |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
28%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Scituate 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marshfield | Scituate | Wellfleet |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Scituate High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| 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.