Compare towns

Marshfield vs Upton vs Wakefield

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 people working from home (24.8%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldUptonWakefield
People
Population
25,879
8,189Lowest
27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.6
15% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
42.4±1.7Lowest
6% above MA
Upton and Marshfield 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%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
20%±2.2
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Wakefield 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%±1.9Lowest
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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
53.5%
MA: 47.3%
59.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
Wakefield 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±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$134,306±$14k
29% above MA
Upton and Wakefield 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±$41kLowest
about the MA average
$723,500±$24kHighest
29% above MA
Wakefield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,772±$123
about the MA average
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,958±$102Highest
11% above MA
Wakefield and Marshfield 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
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$7,779
30% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.1%±10.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
43.7%±7.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Marshfield and Upton 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%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.8%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
19% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
33 minLowest
14% above MA
Work from home
24.8%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.1
MA: 18.6%
Marshfield and Wakefield 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 #179 of 282 in MA
School district Marshfield Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town Marshfield High Blackstone Valley Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0
11.2Highest
10.7Lowest
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.