Compare towns
Marshfield vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Chelmsford has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Thompson | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879 |
9,337Lowest |
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±2.6 18% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Marshfield 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chelmsford 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$593,700±$17k 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 25% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 113% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,047Highest 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Thompson School District | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
7.9Lowest |
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.