Compare towns
Marshfield vs Suffield vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most expensive homes ($680k median).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Chelmsford has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Suffield | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879 |
15,702Lowest |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Marshfield and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelmsford and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marshfield and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chelmsford and Suffield 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 56% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford 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±$27kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17k 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 25% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 113% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marshfield and Chelmsford 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Suffield School District | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Suffield High School | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
10.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.