Compare towns
Marshfield vs Webster vs Scituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($848k 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 | Webster | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
17,748Lowest |
19,365 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
| Scituate 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Scituate and Marshfield 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Scituate 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 21% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$136,732±$16kHighest 32% above MA |
| Scituate 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±$27k 21% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Highest about the MA average |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,609±$311 9% below MA |
| Marshfield and Scituate 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$8,807Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Scituate 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Webster | Scituate |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Bartlett High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.6Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.