Compare towns
Marshfield vs Upton vs Sturbridge 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 renters (19.2% rent).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k median).
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 | Upton | Sturbridge | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,960 |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
| Norwell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| 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 11% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Norwell |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.2 |
7.7Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.