What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most kids (19.6% under 18).

Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marshfield	Wellfleet
People
Population	25,879Highest	4,404Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.6Lowest 15% above MA	58.4±4.1Highest 46% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	14.4%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Marshfield and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	64.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Marshfield and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,986±$8kHighest 21% above MA	$117,938±$27kLowest 13% above MA
	Marshfield and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA	$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,772±$123Highest about the MA average	$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA
	Marshfield and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,656Highest 11% above MA	$4,862Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%	28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest MA: 10%	9.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 min 19% above MA	35 min 19% above MA
Work from home	24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Marshfield and Wellfleet 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	—
School district	Marshfield	Wellfleet
High school in town	Marshfield High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.