Compare towns
Marshfield vs Stow 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 most affordable homes ($680k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
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 | Stow | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
7,165Lowest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Marshfield and Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Stow 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
| Norwell and Stow 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 |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Norwell and Stow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Norwell 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Nashoba | Norwell |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | None in town | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 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.