Compare towns

Marshfield vs Suffield vs Norwell

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 renters (19.2% rent).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
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.

MeasureMarshfieldSuffieldNorwell
People
Population
25,879Highest
15,702
11,361Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.6Highest
18% above U.S.
44.5±1.7
14% above U.S.
39.2±1.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%
28.5%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.2%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±2Lowest
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%
69.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Suffield 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
56% above U.S.
$119,472±$13kLowest
48% above U.S.
$188,699±$25kHighest
134% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$680,300±$27k
104% above U.S.
$407,500±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$865,700±$35kHighest
160% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,772±$123
25% above U.S.
$1,424±$141Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,215±$336Highest
57% above U.S.
Norwell and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,656
113% above U.S.
$6,456Lowest
107% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% 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%
67.1%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
31% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
24.8%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.1%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #57 of 149 in CT #80 of 282 in MA
School district Marshfield Suffield School District Norwell
High school in town Marshfield High Suffield High School Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0
10.9Lowest
11.7Highest
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.